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Report: Raptors to Retain Adrian Griffin, Will Interview to Be Next Head Coach
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The Toronto Raptors seem to have an affinity for Adrian Griffin.
For all the turmoil that reportedly the coaching staff this season, Toronto has reportedly opted to keep Griffin for next year and will interview the 48-year-old to potentially be the team’s head coach next season, per Chris Haynes.
Griffin has spent five seasons with the Raptors, joining Toronto in 2018 as an assistant coach under Nick Nurse. At times over his tenure, he’s stepped in to be the head coach for the Raptors, replacing Nurse once in the COVID-19 Orlando Bubble and again this past season when Nurse was forced to leave the team for personal reasons.
“I think Adrian is right there on the cusp of becoming a head coach in this league,” Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri said following last season.
Griffin has never been a head coach before. He retired from the NBA as a player in 2008 and was immediately signed by the Milwaukee Bucks to be an assistant. He’s since spent time with the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Raptors are hoping to have their head coaching vacancy filled before the NBA Draft on June 22.
Ime Udoka had been considered the frontrunner to be Toronto’s next head coach but the former Boston Celtics coach has joined the Houston Rockets organization.
Further Reading
With Dame Lillard to the Raptors rumors underway, Toronto faces same old problem
Masai Ujiri provides some clarity on Raptors' Jeff Dowtin Jr. decision
Nick Nurse just the first of "big changes" ahead for the Raptors, Masai Ujiri says
