Mavs ‘Glue Guy’ Adrian Griffin Hired as Bucks Coach
DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks during the time Adrian Griffin played here were of course built around the superstardom of Dirk Nowitzki. But as Dirk would be the first to tell anyone, the “glue guys” were also important.
And one of them is getting a top NBA job, as Adrian Griffin is to be the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Griffin replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was fired following five seasons with Milwaukee after the team lost to the Heat 4–1 in the first round of the playoffs. (In a twist, “Coach Bud” replaced Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, another big-time Dirk helper who is now the Mavs head coach.
Griffin has spent the past 16 seasons as an assistant coach for five different teams, including for the 2019 NBA champion Raptors, the team he now leaves.
Griffin, 48, began his career as a Bucks assistant from 2008 to ’10. But before that he was an undrafted free agent who eventually spend two stints as a member of the Mavs.
The 6-5 swing guard played in Dallas from 2001-03 and 2005-06. In his career he ended up averaging 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and one steal per game. A major career highlight was when coach Avery Johnson made him a starter for the Mavs against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals.
Griffin will now take over a contending Bucks team that features perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo as its centerpiece.
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