Dec 25, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin talks with referee James Williams (60) during the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks
MILAWAUKKE — The world could be a cruel place, sometimes. Especially the sports business.
And Milwaukee Bucks ex-coach Adrian Griffin just found out the hard way.
Despite leading the team to a 30-13 record, second-best in the NBA, Griffin was fired as the Bucks’ head coach on Tuesday just 43 games into the season.
One day later, he’s speaking out.
“I appreciate the opportunity the Bucks gave me,” Griffin told Bleacher Report. You can’t control everything. I feel good about the job we did. I appreciate my coaching staff for all their hard work. I always wanted to be a head coach in this league. I couldn’t have asked for a better roster. I got to coach Giannis, Dame [Lillard], Khris [Middleton], Brook [Lopez]. Dream come true. Hopefully I get another shot at it, but overall, I’m just thankful.”
Griffin interviewed for an NBA head coaching gig on 14 difference occasions across a span of 13 years before finally landing with the Bucks in June. The 49-year-old was just four months in of a four-year deal when he was let go.
The Bucks are still on the hook for the remainder of Mike Budenholzer’s salary, meaning they will be paying the salary of three head coaches, after Doc Rivers was hired on Wednesday.
So to answer your next question – how does a coach that 30-13 get fired four months into a four year tenure? Good question. And while few people know the particulars, there has been assumption that Griffin “lost the locker room.”
The Bucks defensive metrics have dropped dramatically, and while the offense has been stellar, it’s lacked consistency. Players privately complained about their roles, touches, chemistry and constantly questioned the schemes on both sides of the ball.
Whether that’s true or not can be debated – but we know the Bucks front office believed a drastic change was necessary.
