Milwaukee Bucks hire Adrian Griffin as next head coach

Milwaukee Bucks hire Adrian Griffin as next head coach

Weeks after firing Mike Budenholzer, the Milwaukee Bucks are planning to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the team’s next head coach, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report Saturday.

Wojnarowski notes that both sides are making progress on the terms of the agreement.

ESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks are planning to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the franchise’s next head coach. Sides are progressing on terms of an agreement. pic.twitter.com/Kz1iydRKsF

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 27, 2023

Griffin was one of three candidates for the job, which included former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and current Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. The Bucks reportedly interviewed 15 candidates.

This will be Griffin’s first head coaching gig. The 48-year-old began his coaching career with the Bucks as an assistant under Scott Skiles in 2008, where he spent two seasons. He was also an assistant for the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder before coaching under Nurse for his entire five-year head coaching tenure in Toronto. He won a title with the Raptors in 2018-19.

Griffin. interviewed for the Houston Rockets head coaching job this offseason, before the job was ultimately given to former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. Griffin also interviewed for head coaching gigs with the Raptors and Detroit Pistons.

The Bucks, who had the NBA’s oldest roster this past season, got bounced by the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat in five games in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.

They have an interesting offseason ahead, with Brook Lopez as a free agent and Khris Middleton possessing a $40.4 million player option. With the new cap constraints (i.e. second apron) introduced by the new CBA, it’s going to be tougher — but not impossible — for Milwaukee to field a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for details.

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