Milwaukee Bucks Fire Coach Adrian Griffin Midway Through Season

The Milwaukee Bucks have made the surprising decision to part ways with their head coach, Adrian Griffin, after just 43 games into his first season. Despite the Bucks’ impressive 30-13 record, which ties them with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second-best in the league, the franchise has decided to make a coaching change.

Reports suggest that the Bucks are planning to pursue experienced and available veteran head coaches. Among the top targets is Doc Rivers, who is highly regarded in the basketball community. Although there have been no discussions yet, the Bucks are expected to reach out to Rivers soon to gauge his interest.

Meanwhile, assistant coach Joe Prunty will step in as the interim coach while the Bucks search for a permanent replacement. Prunty has previous experience as an interim coach with both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks.

The decision to fire Griffin came amidst concerns about the Bucks’ defensive performance. Despite acquiring Damian Lillard before the season to team up with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ defense has slipped from fourth to 22nd in the league. This dip in defensive efficiency raised doubts about the team’s ability to contend for a championship.

Griffin, who had spent 16 seasons as an NBA assistant, including the last five with the Toronto Raptors, was hired over the summer to replace former coach Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer was let go after the 2021 playoffs, where the top-seeded Bucks suffered a surprising 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat in the first round.

Griffin’s tenure as head coach faced early challenges even before the season began. Assistant coach Terry Stotts abruptly left the staff just days before the season opener, despite having over 1,000 games of head coaching experience. Stotts’ departure deprived Griffin of valuable guidance and coaching expertise.

The dismissal of Griffin puts the spotlight on the Milwaukee Bucks and their aspirations for a deep playoff run. With star players like Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the Bucks will be under pressure to find a new head coach who can maximize their potential and restore their defensive prowess.