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It was a telling scene.
The last week-and-a-half of Adrian Griffin’s tenure as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks featured an increased front-office presence, league sources told Bleacher Report.
General manager Jon Horst and assistant GM Milt Newton began observing practices and shootarounds. Observing isn’t uncommon, as most executives do so from a distance while standing near their office.
But the Bucks’ front office observing from the sidelines of practice sessions recently began raising eyebrows of coaching staff and players, sources say.
And about a week later, Griffin was fired after coaching 43 games in which he guided the team to a 30-13 record that stands as the second-best in the league.
Despite the record, this was a move many saw coming.
“I appreciate the opportunity the Bucks gave me. You can’t control everything,” Griffin told Bleacher Report in a phone interview soon after his ouster. “I feel good about the job we did. I appreciate my coaching staff for all their hard work. I always wanted to be a head coach in this league. I couldn’t have asked for a better roster. I got to coach Giannis, Dame, Khris, Brook. Dream come true. Hopefully I get another shot at it, but overall, I’m just thankful.”
Griffin, 49, is dismissed four months into the season off a four-year deal he signed in June 2023. The Bucks are still on the hook for the remainder of Mike Budenholzer’s salary, meaning they will be paying the salary of three head coaches once this next coaching search is completed relatively soon.
Griffin interviewed for an NBA head coaching gig on 14 different occasions in a span of 13 years before finally landing with the Bucks.
Milwaukee was fresh off a first-round defeat by the Miami Heat last season, placing the franchise in a state of unknown.
The Bucks fired Budenholzer and didn’t know if they were re-signing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Lopez was receiving heavy traction from Houston in free agency. They also weren’t sure if Giannis Antetokounmpo would be extending.
Milwaukee braced for the possibility of taking a step back during the 2023-24 season.
All those factors contributed to why the Bucks felt comfort in offering the head coaching job to someone who never held the title prior.
However, when the Bucks surprisingly pulled off the offseason’s biggest acquisition by trading for Damian Lillard, expectations suddenly changed.
And Griffin suddenly found himself in a win-now-or-else proposition.
The defense took a dip, and while the offense has been stellar at times, it lacked fluidity and consistency. Players privately complained about their roles, touches, chemistry and constantly questioned the schemes on both sides of the ball.
Griffin attempted to draw the core players closer by having an airing-out session.
After their loss to the Indiana Pacers in the In-Season Tournament, Griffin called a meeting with Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and Lopez, sources say.
All four spoke on what was working, what wasn’t working and how they could best be utilized. Griffin was stern in telling the players that sacrifice was required, sources say.
He pointed out how some of their teammates would frequently be open when Antetokounmpo and Lillard would drive to the basket. And he called them out for not bringing defensive intensity on a nightly basis.
It was an airing-out session the players appreciated. Milwaukee ended up winning its next seven games. But something still wasn’t right. The convincing wins were not there and the bickering in the locker room continued.
At this point, the Bucks are zeroing in on Doc Rivers to replace Griffin, sources say. Rivers is currently serving as a color commentator for ESPN.
Milwaukee has also formulated a short list of candidates that includes Jeff Van Gundy and Nate McMillan, sources say.
Rivers, though, may ultimately have the edge due to his experience coaching stars.
The plan for the Bucks is to act quickly on hiring the next head coach, sources say.