The head coach Adrian Griffin of the Milwaukee Bucks was fired on Tuesday.
Griffin’s stint ended abruptly, despite the team finishing in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst confirmed the decision, acknowledging that it was painful to split ways with Griffin in the middle of the season. “It was a difficult decision, but we’re already working toward selecting our next head coach,” Horst remarked. We value Coach Griffin’s dedication to the squad and his hard work.”
After the Bucks’ early playoff exit the previous season, Mike Budenholzer abruptly left, and Griffin, 49, took over as coach in June. Griffin has a “championship-level coaching pedigree, character, basketball acumen, and ability to connect with players,” according to Horst, who praised Griffin’s selection.
Many were surprised by Griffin’s departure despite his strong start to the season—he had a 30-13 record and the second-best winning percentage in the league.
Monday’s 122-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons was his final game in command.
Assistant coach Joe Prunty will take over as head coach in the interim until a permanent replacement is found to fill the vacuum left by Griffin. The Bucks are reportedly considering former Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers as a possible long-term successor for Griffin, according to rumors making the rounds in US media.
The basketball community and fans are wondering about how the sudden coaching change may affect the Bucks’ performance in the current NBA season.
