Milwaukee Bucks set to hire Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as next head coach, per report
The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly found a new head coach.
The Bucks are finalizing a deal with Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin to become the franchise’s next head coach, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Griffin ended his NBA playing career in 2008 after being traded to the Bucks and simultaneously started his coaching career under Milwaukee's then-head coach Scott Skiles. Now, Griffin is set to become the 17th head coach in the franchise's history. According to ESPN, Griffin and the Bucks are negotiating a multi-year contract.
He will succeed Mike Budenholzer, who was fired earlier this month after five seasons following Milwaukee's first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat.
BUCKS: Fire coach Mike Budenholzer after disappointing first-round playoff loss
Here's everything you need to know about Griffin:
Who is Adrian Griffin?
Griffin, 48, grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and played collegiately at Seton Hall University, where he led the Pirates to a 1993 Big East tournament championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Griffin has three children – Adrian Jr., Alan, Aubrey – all of whom played collegiate basketball. Adrian Griffin Jr. played for Duke from 2021-2022 and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the 16th overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Alan Griffin competed at Syracuse and Illinois and currently plays in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Daughter Aubrey currently plays for women's powerhouse Connecticut.
Did Adrian Griffin play in the NBA?
Griffin was undrafted in the 1996 NBA draft but went on to have a nine-year career in the NBA, where he averaged 4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 477 career games.
He played for the Boston Celtics (1999-2001), Dallas Mavericks (2001-2003, 2005-2006), Houston Rockets (2003-2004), Chicago Bulls (2004-2005, 2006-2008) and the Seattle SuperSonics (2008) throughout his career.
Before playing in the NBA, Griffin played in the minor league Continental Basketball Association, where he won a title with the Connecticut Pride in the 1998-99 season, plus league MVP and Finals MVP honors.
What is Adrian Griffin's coaching background?
Griffin started his coaching career as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks under Skiles for two seasons after his playing career ended in 2008. He then spent five seasons as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls under Tom Thibodeau, before joining the Orlando Magic as their top assistant coach for one season. Griffin spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Billy Donovan’s staff.
In 2018, Griffin joined the Toronto Raptors as the lead assistant coach under Nick Nurse. The team won an NBA championship in 2019 ‒ Griffin's first ring as a player or coach. Nurse was fired this season after the Raptors failed ot make the postseason.
Was Adrian Griffin accused of domestic violence?
During the “bubble” playoffs in 2020, Griffin was accused of domestic violence on social media by his ex-wife Audrey Sterling. Griffin denied the allegations and faced no punishment from the Raptors or the league, and in 2021 Griffin sued his ex-wife for defamation. The case was settled in 2022.
– Jim Owczarski
Why was Mike Budenholzer fired?
The Bucks finished with the best record in the league (58-24) and earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Milwaukee lost to the Miami Heat in five games in the first round of the playoffs, a disappointing finish to a season that had championship expectations.
"The decision to make this change was very difficult," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. "Bud helped lead our team for five incredible seasons, to the Bucks' first title in 50 years, and into an era of sustained success... This is an opportunity for us to refocus and reenergize our efforts as we continue building toward our next championship season."
Contributing: Jeff Zillgitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Adrian Griffin: Bucks set to hire Raptors assistant as next head coach
