Bucks Zone

Report indicates Adrian Griffin has the backing of Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis backs Adrian Griffin as the Bucks' new head coach.

Matthew Dugandzic

Report indicates Adrian Griffin has the backing of Giannis Antetokounmpo
Report indicates Adrian Griffin has the backing of Giannis Antetokounmpo /
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34)
Giannis Antetokounmpo / © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Hiring a new coach is always a tricky endeavor. After all, the entire transition process can be tedious—from installing a new system to defining new roles and expectations. It’s even more complex when it comes to the NBA, where changes at the coaching level can make or break an entire franchise. 

Recently, a report from The Athletic showed that Adrian Griffin had received backing from the team’s superstar, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, which can help usher the former NBA player in as the team’s new head coach.

Giannis backs Griffin

According to The Athletic, the finalists for the Bucks’ head coaching position—Griffin, the Golden State Warriors’ Kenny Atkinson, and former Toronto coach Nick Nurse—were all given an opportunity to meet with Giannis at his home in Wisconsin. This was then followed by a meeting with the team’s ownership group.

After that, Giannis and fellow All-Star Khris Middleton were invited by general manager Jon Horst to a dinner with the ownership group to discuss the coaching hire. Not long after, sources bared that Griffin will become the 17th head coach in franchise history. He will, though, have some big shoes to fill with Budenholzer’s tenure—regardless of its devastating end this season—being seen as, by and large, a successful one.

New challenge for Griffin

Griffin has never been a head coach in his career, although he’s had extensive experience as an assistant coach for five different teams—the Bucks, Bulls, Magic, Thunder, and recently, the Toronto Raptors. 

He also played nine seasons in the NBA, playing for five different teams. His most productive season came in the 2001-2002 season, as he averaged 7.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the Dallas Mavericks.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.