Key takeaways from Adrian Griffin's introduction: His style, meeting expectations and Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks introduced Adrian Griffin as their new head coach Tuesday afternoon with Fiserv Forum as the backdrop to his return to Milwaukee. In the gallery were team president Peter Feigin, other members of the front office, organizational staff and players Grayson Allen, MarJon Beauchamp, Jevon Carter, Joe Ingles, Meyers Leonard and AJ Green.

Griffin began his coaching career as a Bucks assistant coach in 2008 under Scott Skiles, and he spoke about how the opportunity was a dream come true for him.

“I believe in just the preparation that goes into sitting in this seat. I had great mentors. There’s too many to name," he said. "I’m extremely appreciative of the path that I’ve taken. Everyone’s path is different, but to wait 15 years for this job was worth it.”

More: Adrian Griffin has come to terms with the Milwaukee Bucks to become the team's next head coach

General manager Jon Horst sat alongside Griffin, noting the club interviewed roughly 15 initial candidates, winnowed that down to about a half dozen before a final group met with ownership. Horst said Griffin impressed every step of the way, and with every different meeting of organization staff in the process.

"Like three questions in (into the interview) you can see this guy is like itching to like go to the board and to get to the film and to say like, I don’t want redo everything that you guys have built, but I can show you this, or I can show you that, and where we can get a little bit better, a little bit better here. Winning in the playoffs is a game of inches. It’s about doing the little things a little bit better, more consistently and his passion and his energy when it comes to coaching is evident. The rhythm in which he answered your question, that’s just who he is. This guy is a basketball coach. There’s a lot of specifics as to why, but it’s evident that Adrian is ready for this job.”

Here are some of top takeaways from Griffin and Horst’s news conference:

Did you start out prioritizing head coaching experience, or did Griffin change your mind on that?

Horst: I think (we were) sincerely very open with the process, to really cast a wide net and try to narrow in on a group that we thought could do the job, people who could do the job and do it really, really well. I will tell you there was probably a bias internally that made me think that they probably would need to have some head coaching experience in the package. But I didn’t allow that bias to overrun our process in any way. And what became clear to me and evident throughout the process and I think something we've learned – and we’ll see how it works out – is head coaching experience is one level of experience but NBA experience is another incredibly valuable level of experience. There’s really no one that we spent time with that's more experienced than Adrian Griffin to be a head coach in the NBA. I'll go back to what (assistant GM) Milt (Newton) kept saying – he’s a head coach, he just hasn’t had the opportunity. That's really true for all of us in this room -- you don't become something until someone gives you that opportunity. So, he’s got the opportunity now. It’s an awesome opportunity and we have full confidence in his abilty to do it.

More: There's a lot to like about the Bucks' hiring of Adrian Griffin as head coach

How do you intend to meet the standard that has been set by the organization the last five years?

Griffin: One of the things that we spoke about in our first interview was, look, the foundation’s already been laid. This is a strong culture. We have special talent on this team. So, this wasn’t something where I was coming in to uproot everything. Actually it was just to build. I think what my 25 years of experience in the NBA, I can add great value to the team and just bring in my experiences as a player and as a coach. So, to answer your question, this is a tremendous opportunity, right? I’m coming in with some special talent on the team. Yes, we have high expectations but we’re going to embrace them. But it starts by getting to work. Never lose sight of the work involved. I think going undrafted and going the minor league route, it taught me the value of hard work and that’s what we’re going to build upon from day one.

What is your brand of basketball?

Griffin: So, I’ve been under a lot of great coaches and you kind of take the good and you kind of make it your own so I’m fortunate I have a large pool to pull from. But, defense wins, obviously. We’re going to be a proactive defense, right? We’re going to get after it, we want to pressure the ball, we want to take our defense to the offense. We’re not going to allow the offense to take their offense to us. We’re going to pressure the ball, right? We’re going to get turnovers and we’re going to get out and run. We’re also going to make adjustments throughout the game with our defensive and switch up our defenses. I think offensively we want to take advantage of the special talent that’s on this team, to create high percentage shots. Also, that means making teams pay for putting two or three bodies on the ball also, I think that’s also going to work in our favor, so we’re going to move the ball, a little bit more ball movement, body movement, get those high percentage shots in the paint and then the threes will be there. We’re not going to put any limits on the threes that we take but they’re going to be team threes, they’re going to be rhythm threes. And then I’m a big fan of getting on the offensive boards. We’re going to try to put as many things in our favor and I’m just exited to get to work.

More: Milwaukee Bucks plan to hire Terry Stotts as assistant coach

Giannis Antetokounmpo was involved in this interview process – what did you learn from him or about him?

Griffin: First, I want to give credit to Jon and his staff because the environment and the platform that they gave me in the interview process really worked in my favor. Again, I was able to get on the board multiple times. I was able to break down film and edit and kind of give my analysis. And then they allowed me to meet with different personnel within the organization along with Giannis. But I can tell you, I left the conversation in awe. You’re talking about a guy that is super passionate about bringing another championship to the city of Milwaukee. He was very humble. He was very hungry. And those are the traits that we’re looking of with our players. I had an opportunity to reach out to all the players that was the common theme from the players, that they are hungry. And, that’s kind of going to be our motto this year. We’re going to put in the work, we’re not going to take anything for granted, and you now, we’re gearing up for April, May and June.

After the formal question and answer session, Griffin met with several local reporters for a follow-up session where he addressed the 2020 social media accusations of domestic violence and not paying child support by his ex-wife, Audrey Sterling.

Sterling’s attorney did not immediately respond for comment when reached by the Journal Sentinel.

The session has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity:

Did it come up in the interview process? Is that something that the Bucks asked about?

Griffin: I appreciate you asking that. I will say this, I absolutely denied the allegations. The allegations were unfounded. Unfortunately, I had to file a defamation case. I cannot get into the facts or the details of the litigation, but I can tell you that it has been resolved.

Why was it important for you to file that defamation lawsuit?

Griffin: Again, I can't get into too much details of this matter, but I will add that I am the one who filed the defamation case on her.

To follow up on that, you had said, this prevented me from getting a job, a head coaching job. So, I'm guessing now that you're at this spot, was it important to defend yourself in that way, so you could kind of move forward in your career?

(Note: The amended complaint stated, “During the 2021 off-season, Plaintiff was unable to secure a head coaching position specifically because, he was told, of the Defendant’s defamatory attacks).

Griffin: I don't know if I said that, "This stopped me from getting jobs." That's something that you would have to ask them, the other teams. But for me, I'm just excited. It's a great opportunity for me to coach this team, it's been a dream come true. I've prepared so long for this job and it's just a great day, I'm just relishing in the opportunity right now to be a part of the Bucks culture and do a lot of winning for this city.

When you say it was resolved, was it settled or dropped?

(Note: In the order of dismissal, it was written that “The Court having been advised that all claims asserted herein have been settled, it is ORDERED that the above-entitled action be and is hereby dismissed and discontinued without costs, and without prejudice to the right to reopen the action within thirty days of the date of this Order if the settlement is not consummated.”)

Griffin: Again, I can't get into the details of the litigation. I will say again that I am the one that brought the defamation suit to her.

Did it come up in the process with Jon and the organization?

Griffin: I believe Jon did his due diligence. Of course, anyone would, but I felt comfortable. We've been open and transparent with each other from Day 1. I've been knowing him a long time and we've formed a great partnership already, so I'm just looking forward to moving forward.

When you're a public figure, is filing the defamation suit the only course of action that was logical for you?

Griffin: I think, at the end of the day, I was forced to file a defamation suit.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Bucks coach Adrian Griffin on his style, expectations and Giannis