Bucks hire Adrian Griffin as head coach
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Bucks made it official: Adrian Griffin has been hired as head coach.
Griffin, who becomes the 17th head coach in Bucks franchise history, brings 15 seasons of NBA coaching experience to the Bucks, most recently spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors.
Griffin becomes the 17th head coach in franchise history.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 5, 2023
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“Adrian is a widely-respected coach and former player, who brings great leadership and experience to our team,” said Bucks general manager Jon 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.”
According to a news release from the Bucks, in Griffin’s time as an assistant coach, the Raptors finished in the league’s top 10 of both defensive rating and fewest points allowed per game in four of his five seasons, including in 2019-20 when they allowed a league-low 106.5 points per game. He was part of the development of a young core of players that included the league’s Most Improved Player, the NBA Rookie of the Year and four players who made six All-Star appearances.
“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.”
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Griffin began his coaching career after a nine-year NBA playing career with Boston, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Seattle from 1999-08. He appeared in 477 regular-season games in his NBA career and averaged 4.0 points in 16.8 minutes per game. Griffin also saw action in 48 playoff games, including in 2006 when he reached the NBA Finals with the Mavericks.
Griffin played collegiately at Seton Hall for four seasons where he earned All-Big East Second Team honors as a senior and was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. After his collegiate career, Griffin played professionally in the United States Basketball League, the Continental Basketball Association and internationally in Italy. His coaching experience also includes working with the USA men’s national team that won gold at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain in 2014.
A news conference introducing Griffin as the Bucks’ head coach will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in GATHER at Deer District.