Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks need a new head coach after the franchise fired Mike Budenholzer and John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports is reporting that the two-time NBA MVP wants the front office to hire Adrian Griffin.
Griffin, who played 447 games in the NBA from 1999 to 2008, is currently an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
“I think that Griffin is gonna get the Milwaukee job because Giannis wants him,” Gambadoro said. “There’s like a butting of the heads in Milwaukee, from what I’m being told, because you’ve got the owner, you’ve got the GM, you’ve got Giannis. They wanna keep Giannis and they wanna keep Giannis happy. Adrian Griffin is his choice. That’s who he wants.”
Griffin is considered a defensive-minded coach who is able to hold players accountable. He is 48 years old and looking for his first head coaching job.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks fired Budenholzer after losing to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Milwaukee was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season.
Budenholzer guided the Bucks to the 2021 title over the Phoenix Suns in six games. However, Milwaukee felt it needed a new voice in the locker room after back-to-back postseasons where the team didn’t make a deep run. The Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games despite having a 3-2 lead in the series.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season for the Bucks while shooting 55.3% from the field and 64.5% from the free-throw line. The seven-time All-Star hurt his back in Game 1 of the Heat series and missed Games 2 and 3.
Antetokounmpo, 28, signed a five-year, $228 million designated maximum contract extension with Milwaukee in December 2020. He will make $45.7 million next season.
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