Adrian Griffin holds a 'competitive' first practice as Bucks head coach
One of Adrian Griffin’s core beliefs, part of what got him through nearly a decade of NBA play as an undrafted free agent and ultimately his first head coaching job with the Milwaukee Bucks, is to “not skip steps.”
It’s a mantra he’s instilling in the 2023-24 Milwaukee Bucks, and the first official step of the season came Tuesday at the Sports Science Center with the opening of training camp.
Griffin and his coaching staff were already going to have manage a championship expectation with this team, but the acquisition of point guard Damian Lillard only pumped steroids into those title forecasts.
“I’ve been here 10 years and we’ve been doing things quietly, we kind of be moving under the radar and now with this kind of move it brings a lot of attention to the team and there’s a lot of hype around the team and obviously I believe, and I think a lot of people believe, we’re one of the best teams in the East,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said Monday.
“But at the end of the day, it’s not about what we believe or what people believe, it’s about what we do. So, going into the season we’ve got to build good habits, we’ve got to be on the same page, we’ve got to lead this team. We gotta play the game. That’s why it’s a game. We’re not gonna talk the game, we’re gonna play the game.”
Tuesday’s practice began the road to play.
But it wasn’t without an added bit of change.
DJ Shawna was on hand to provide music live. There was a one-on-one tournament, won by Antetokounmpo. And when Griffin was hired in June, Jrue Holiday was still on the roster. Griffin likely had a good feeling Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez would return via free agency, but Lillard was just added a week ago.
So, Griffin and his staff did huddle in the days following to tweak some things.
While he quipped after practice that the mission is to outscore the opponent, Griffin acknowledged, “We’ve had meetings. Obviously, we have to have a package moving forward, fourth quarter package, end-of-game package. We’ve been on top of that. My staff has been great. But right now it’s just about them building some chemistry, getting to know each other. It is a new team, different faces, so they gotta learn and grow, find out each other’s strengths and non-strengths – I don’t like saying weaknesses; but it’s a good problem to have.”
As for the tenor of the practice, Bobby Portis and Jae Crowder said it set a tone.
“Today was a great day – it was very competitive," Crowder said. "Coach made it very obvious that we’re gonna compete, we’re going to try and sharpen each other up as best as possible and make each other better before we even see the competition. I think that’s a great sign.”
Competition will be a theme for Griffin, as the fifth starting spot alongside Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and Lopez is up for grabs.
“It’ll be earned,” Griffin said. “We have ‘all in,’ it’s one of our, kind of slogans we’re living by and ‘all in’ means no turns. Like, a lot of players will say he’s gone, he’s gone, well it’s my turn. You get what you earn. If you earn it, it’s your turn, but nothing’s going to be given. I like it that way because you really get to see who really wants it bad enough but at the same time.”
Khris Middleton did not practice in full
Griffin said Middleton got “quality” work in but did not participate fully in the first camp practice.
“Just had a great summer, we just want to – you don’t build Rome in a day – he’ll get back to it and we’ll find ways to incorporate him as we move forward,” the head coach said.
Middleton underwent right knee surgery shortly after the Bucks season ended in the spring. On Monday, the three-time all-star forward said he was without pain.
"I feel good," Middleton said Monday. "I feel like I'm getting a fresh start with my body. So this summer has been great, just getting my body back right and getting my mind right for the upcoming season."
More: Damian Lillard quickly settling into new home with Milwaukee Bucks
More: Giannis Antetokounmpo turned up the pressure on the Bucks. Now he must deliver.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin leads first practice
