The Bucks have reportedly found their new head coach, and they tapped the bench of a fellow Eastern Conference team to find him.
Multiple sources are reporting Adrian Griffin, who was brought on as an assistant to Nick Nurse when Nurse took over for the Raptors in 2018, is set to take over Milwaukee, who finished with the best regular season record in the NBA last season.
it will be a reunion of sorts, as Griffin was on Scott Skiles' bench from 2008-2010 before stints with the Bulls, Magic, and Thunder.
Griffin served as acting head coach on April 10, 2022 against the Knicks in what would be a 105-94 loss to close out the regular season.
MORE: Bucks offseason outlook after being eliminated from playoffs
Griffin isn't going in as a traditional first-year head coach. He immediately shoulders all of the expectations of a reigning No. 1 seed with one of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer after disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Heat this year, just two years removed from winning the NBA Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as their new head coach, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/HJl1KRgOyR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 27, 2023
In short: The expectations are high.
Adrian Griffin coaching experience
Griffin has been coaching in the NBA since 2008, securing a job nearly immediately after exiting the NBA following a brief stint with the Seattle Supersonics.
He was an assistant under Scott Skiles in Milwaukee from 2008 to 2010 before joining the Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls. Thibodeau was an assistant when Griffin played for the Rockets in 2003.
Griffin coached under Thibodeau throughout his tenure in Chicago from 2010-2015 before spending a season with the Magic (also with Skiles), two with the Thunder (under Billy Donovan), and most recently five seasons under Nick Nurse in Toronto.
Griffin tweeted last year, per Lily Zhao, that he got his PhD in Organizational Leadership ahead of his 48th birthday as well.
#Bucks newest head coach Adrian Griffin earned his PhD in Organizational Leadership last year. A nice accomplishment. https://t.co/4FyVLaRhQg
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) May 27, 2023
Bucks pending free agents
Despite the expectations, Griffin is hardly inheriting a perfect situation in Milwaukee.
Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez could both be pending free agents at the conclusion of the league year. Lopez is set to be unrestricted, where Middleton could opt in next season or re-sign to stay in Milwaukee.
If Middleton and Lopez depart, don't expect a rebuild from the Bucks, but more of a "reboot." Jrue Holiday has a player option after next season as well.
Other upcoming free agents include Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Jae Crowder, Goran Dragic, Joe Ingles, Meyers Leonard, and Wesley Matthews.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contract
Even with those players leaving (and potentially leaving), don't expect to see the Bucks let their foot off the gas. Antetokounmpo also has a player option, but not until the 2025-26 season, so as far as the Bucks are concerned, their window is very much open.
MORE: How long is Giannis Antetokounmpo under contract for?
After signing a five-year, $228 million supermax extension back in 2020, Antetokounmpo still has a few years locked in with the Bucks.
| Year | Salary | Cap | Gtd. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $39,344,900 | $39,344,900 | $39,344,900 |
| 2022 | $42,492,492 | $42,492,492 | $42,492,492 |
| 2023 | $45,640,084 | $45,640,084 | $45,640,084 |
| 2024 | $48,787,676 | $48,787,676 | $48,787,676 |
| 2025* | $51,935,268 | $51,935,268 | $51,935,268 |
| 2026 | UFA |
* - Player Option after season
Griffin will be a first-time head coach with a team with championship aspirations, which is a challenge in and of itself. It's somewhat analogous to Willie Green, who took over a Pelicans team that wasn't as far along as the Bucks are in 2021.
Budenholzer had a winning percentage of .693 in the regular season as the Bucks head coach, but shortcomings in the playoffs led to his exit after this year. Milwaukee clearly believe Griffin has what it takes to get the Bucks over the hump... Again.