The Milwaukee Bucks made a surprising move on Tuesday when they fired Adrian Griffin as their head coach after just 43 games. Despite having one of the best records in the league midway through his first season, the team's management felt the need to make a change.
General Manager Jon Horst addressed the decision in a statement, saying, 'This was a difficult decision to make during the season. We are working immediately toward hiring our next head coach. We thank Coach Griffin for his hard work and contributions to the team.' Joe Prunty, an assistant coach on Griffin's staff, will take over as the interim head coach.
The Bucks, currently boasting a 30-13 record, were tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second-best record in the league leading up to the decision. They were positioned 3 1/2 games behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. However, concerns arose regarding the team's defensive performance, which had declined despite the acquisition of seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard to complement two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee's defensive rating this season ranks at 22nd in the NBA, a significant drop from their fourth-place position in the previous year. This is surprising considering the presence of top-tier defenders like Antetokounmpo and 7-footer Brook Lopez. Antetokounmpo, who was named the NBA's defensive player of the year in 2020, and Lopez, who finished second in last season's voting, were expected to anchor a strong defensive unit.
Adrian Griffin was given his first head coaching job by the Bucks last summer following the firing of Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer had led the team to their first championship in 50 years in 2021 and had consistently produced impressive regular-season and playoff performances. Under his guidance, the Bucks had the most combined regular-season and playoff wins of any team. They also held the best regular-season record in the league for three out of his five seasons as head coach.
However, the decision to part ways with Budenholzer came after a disappointing first-round exit in last season's playoffs, where they were unexpectedly defeated 4-1 by the Miami Heat. The hope was that Griffin, who had 16 seasons of experience as an NBA assistant and a nine-year playing career, would be able to build on Budenholzer's success and take the team even further.
Griffin faced immediate pressure stepping into the head coaching role for a team that featured two members of the NBA's 75th anniversary team in Antetokounmpo and Lillard. The departure of assistant coach Terry Stotts just before the season began was seen as a potential red flag for Griffin's tenure. Stotts, who had more than 1,000 games of head coaching experience, had initially accepted the assignment but unexpectedly left the staff less than a week before the season opener.
The Bucks now find themselves in search of their next head coach as they aim to maintain their strong performance and compete for a championship. The decision to let go of Griffin may have come as a surprise, but it reflects the organization's commitment to achieving their goals and addressing any concerns that may hinder their progress.
(AP)
