Milwaukee Bucks Part Ways with Head Coach Adrian Griffin Despite Strong Season Start

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly terminated the coaching tenure of Adrian Griffin after just 43 games, despite the team holding one of the league’s top records midway through the season. Currently boasting a 30-13 record, tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second-best in the league, the Bucks sit at second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Boston Celtics by 3.5 games.

While the team’s impressive offensive performance has contributed to their success, concerns have been raised about a decline in their defensive capabilities. The Bucks now rank 22nd in the NBA in defensive rating, a notable drop from their fourth-place position the previous year. This raised doubts about the team’s potential as a championship contender, especially after the high-profile acquisition of seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard to join forces with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Adrian Griffin had assumed the head coaching role over the summer, succeeding Mike Budenholzer, who guided the Bucks to their first title in 2021. The decision to change coaches followed a disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs last season, where the top-seeded Bucks were defeated 4-1 by the Miami Heat.

Griffin, 49, brought with him 16 seasons of experience as an NBA assistant, including the last five with the Toronto Raptors, in addition to a nine-year playing career in the NBA. However, questions about his coaching tenure emerged early on, signaled by the abrupt departure of assistant coach Terry Stotts before the season. Stotts, with over 1,000 games of head coaching experience, left less than a week before the season opener, creating an unexpected challenge for Griffin at the beginning of his head coaching career.