Bucks Zone

Milwaukee Bucks officially name Adrian Griffin as the new head coach

The former NBA journeyman takes on the role as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jonas Panerio|
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Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are set to start another chapter in the franchise’s long and colorful history as they officially hired Adrian Griffin to be their new head coach. Griffin, who brings with him 15 seasons of NBA coaching experience as an assistant, most recently with the Toronto Raptors, is the Bucks’ 17th head coach, replacing Mike Budenholzer.

The right man for the job

Though Griffin has some pretty big shoes to fill in Budenholzer’s, who guided Milwaukee to an NBA title in 2021, Bucks general manager Jon Horst believes they have picked the right man for the job. The team conducted an exhaustive search and included some big coaching names, such as former Toronto coach Nick Nurse and current Golden State associate coach Kenny Atkinson.

“Adrian is a widely-respected coach and former player, who brings great leadership and experience to our team,” said Horst. “His championship-level coaching pedigree, character, basketball acumen, and ability to connect with and develop players make him the ideal choice to lead our team. He has earned this opportunity.”

Help develop players further

During his time as an assistant for the Raptors, Griffin helped the Raptors establish a defensive identity. The numbers speak for themselves, too: the Raptors finished in the top 10 in both defensive rating and fewest points allowed per game in four of the five seasons he was with the team.

Additionally, he played a significant role in the development of the Raptors’ core, helping Pascal Siakam become the Most Improved Player and a two-time All-Star. Under his watch, Fred Van Vleet has also become an All-Star, while OG Anunoby has transformed into one of the league’s best defenders.

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to Wes, Jamie, Dee, Jimmy, and Jon to be named the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks,” said Griffin. “The Bucks are a championship organization, and I’m thrilled to work with an established roster of high character and talented players. I’m excited to be back in Milwaukee, and I can’t wait to get started.”

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO