Giannis Antetokounmpo: Adrian Griffin’s firing was a ‘surprise’
One of the biggest stories across the NBA this week was that Milwaukee Bucks first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, who was 17 games above .500 through 43 games (30-13), was axed for longtime head coach Doc Rivers, who’s debut will come in the following days after officially signing a $40 million deal through 2026-27.
To some, including superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo–who allegedly played a huge role in Griffin being brought to Milwaukee this offseason–his firing came by surprise.
“I’ve got to trust the front office, I’ve got to trust the ownership group that they consider the bigger picture,” Antetokounmpo said after the Bucks’ 126-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night, Joe Prunty’s first game as interim head coach (before Rivers arrives) of the season, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “My job is to be the best version of myself, to lead this team out there and help win games.
“Their job is to create the best team possible and the best atmosphere around the team possible that they believe gives us a better chance to win a championship. But yeah, I do think [firing coach Griffin] was a surprise.”
Griffin’s firing was one of the quickest in NBA History for a first-year head coach, especially since Milwaukee had the league’s second-best record at the time, 3.5 games behind the surging Boston Celtics.
The franchise parted ways with Mike Budenholzer after getting eliminated in five games by the then-No. 8-seeded Miami Heat in the opening round of the 2022-23 NBA Postseason. It marked the NBA’s quickest elimination by a top seed from a No. 8 seed since the seven-game series was introduced in the first round in 2002-03.
Milwaukee’s adjusted offensive rating placed No. 13 last year, while its defense ranked No. 4, according to Dunks and Threes; as a result of trading defensive menace Jrue Holiday for star point guard Damian Lillard, plus implementing more aggressive schemes that compromised its back-line, its offense has elevated to third-best while its defense sunk to 20th under Griffin.
“I loved the guy. I invited him to my wedding,” Antetokounmpo said. “I was coached by him and we did very, very, very well. When somebody is being hired, the GM might come and ask, ‘What do you think about that? What do you think about this?’ or whatever and not just me — players, people that he trusts their advice. But at times, they make it seem like it’s the players that are making the decision.”
Doc Rivers brings two dozen years of head coaching experience, having coached multiple star talents like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joel Embiid, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Now, he will work with one of the most determined players in the sport in Antetokounmpo, who’s questing for his second NBA Title in less than a half-decade, and Lillard, who’s yet to make an NBA Finals over his 11-year career. Sure, Rivers has had multiple playoff flameouts over the years, but this is as good as a situation he’s ever entered from a talent perspective.
“There’s been a lot of expectations on our team,” Lillard said. “Things have been expected to look a certain way. We’ve had a bumpy road to our success, which is sometimes a part of the process. I was surprised. But it’s part of the game. People get traded, people get waived, people get fired, and that’s never something you want to see.”
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