According to NBA insider Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo “lost faith” in Adrian Griffin.
The Bucks fired Griffin despite being in second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Joe Prunty is expected to take over as interim coach. According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Bucks could hire Doc Rivers, who currently works at ESPN.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adrian Griffin, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
During the Bucks’ loss to the Boston Celtics on November 22, Antetokounmpo and Griffin had a heated exchange when Antetokounmpo checked out of the game midway through the third quarter. At the time, Griffin downplayed the exchange.
“He wanted to stay in. I wanted to give him a breather. That’s all it was,” Griffin said. “And then I told him to stay at the table for one possession and he got right back out there.”
The Bucks are 30-13. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 assists while shooting 60.3% from the field, 23.0% from beyond the arc and 66.9% from the free-throw line. He has 32 double-doubles and six triple-doubles.
Antetokounmpo signed a three-year, $177 million extension with the Bucks in October. The future Hall of Famer intends to spend his entire career in Milwaukee.
The Bucks are second in the NBA in points per game. They’re averaging 124.6 points. However, Milwaukee is 25th in points per game allowed. Antetokounmpo and Co. are allowing 120.5 points.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adrian Griffin, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
It will be fascinating to see if Prunty is the head coach for the rest of the season or if Rivers is brought in. Antetokounmpo will certainly have a big say in the matter.
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