The Milwaukee Bucks have found their next head coach.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the team plans to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin. The two sides are reportedly progressing on terms of an 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 has been an assistant for the Raptors since 2018, meaning he was on the bench for the team’s NBA title win in 2019. The 48-year-old coach has more than 15 years of assistant coaching experience in the league. In fact, he began his coaching career as an assistant for the Bucks from 2008-10.
Griffin was a three-year starter for Seton Hall, averaging 16.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and earning All-Big East Second Team honors. He went unselected in the 1996 NBA Draft and began his playing career in the D-League/overseas. He finally broke into the NBA ranks as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1999 and notched stints with Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Seattle before retiring in 2008.
Griffin replaces championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the Bucks were eliminated from the first round of this year’s playoffs.
Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson was the other finalist for this job.