NBA's Milwaukee Bucks hired Adrian Griffin as their new head coach, the team announced on Monday, June 5.
The Bucks have finally found a replacement to lead the team after firing Mike Budenholzer, who had to leave following the team's first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat.
Milwaukee Bucks New Head Coach Adrian Griffin
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Assistant coach Adrian Griffin of the Toronto Raptors reacts during second-half action against the Philadelphia 76ers after head coach Nick Nurse stepped down for the night to let Griffin coach at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
After parting ways with Budenholzer, the Bucks are moving forward with its new head coach, Griffin, the team officially announced on Monday. According to ESPN, rumors about the entry of Griffin surfaced as early as April 29, noting that the agreement was being finalized at that stage.
The General Manager of the Bucks, Jon Horst, says Griffin "brings great leadership and experience to our team." He touts that the former Toronto Raptor coach flaunts a "championship-level coaching pedigree, character, and basketball acumen."
Horst also emphasized that the new Bucks head coach knows how to connect with players and develop their potential. He adds that these qualities make Griffin "the ideal choice" to steer the ship for the NBA team.
Griffin told NBA.com that he is "thrilled to work" with the Bucks, which is known for its talented and high-character players. He further says he is "excited" to make his comeback to Milwaukee.
The new head coach is a well-respected coach who has a proven track record of success. He is also a former player, which gives him a unique understanding of what it takes to win in the NBA.
ESPN notes that the 48-year-old coach used to be an assistant for various NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls, wherein he served between 2010 and 2015. He also had a brief stint as an Orlando Magic coaching assistant from 2015 to 2016. Griffin was with the Oklahoma City Thunder between 2016 and 2018.
He then joined the Toronto Raptors as an assistant to Nick Nurse. But the Raptors recently fired the latter, and he now steers the ship of the Philadelphia 76ers.
But before jumping into these teams, Griffin kicked off his coaching career with the Bucks as an assistant to the staff of Scott Skiles in 2008. He left in 2010 as he transferred to the Bulls.
Before coaching, he played extensively for several NBA teams, including the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Read Also: Milwaukee Bucks Fire Head Coach Mike Budenholzer After First-Round Playoff Loss
Terry Stotts Returns as Assistant Coach
NEW YORK - JANUARY 17: Adrian Griffin #44 of the Chicago Bulls looks on prior to taking on the New York Knicks on January 17, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
According to Sports Illustrated, Terry Stotts is also making his comeback to Milwaukee as one of the assistant coaches of Griffin. The former used to be the Bucks head coach between 2006 and 2007.
The Bucks hope Griffin and Stotts can help them build a championship contender. With the right coaching, the Bucks could be a force in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
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