Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said he was grateful for the opportunity after getting fired just halfway through his first season.
Griffin was fired despite of the Bucks’ 30-13 in his first year as an NBA head coach. He spoke to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT about the Bucks’ decision.
“I appreciate the opportunity the Bucks gave me. You can’t control everything,” Griffin said. “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 Antetokounmpo), (Damian Lillard), (Khris Middleton), (Brook Lopez). Dream come true. Hopefully I get another shot at it, but overall, I’m just thankful.”
Griffin is being replaced by Doc Rivers, who served as a consultant to Griffin at the Bucks’ behest since December. Rivers was offered and reportedly has accepted the job.
Griffin’s first sign of trouble in Milwaukee came before the season, when former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts resigned from his position as Griffin’s assistant. Lillard is known to be a Stotts fan from their time together in Portland.
Griffin, 49, began his NBA coaching career as a Bucks assistant in 2008. He then served as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors before being hired to replace Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee this past offseason.
Before becoming a coach, Griffin was a journeyman guard/forward in the NBA from 1999-2008, playing for six different teams in that span.
Milwaukee is in first place in the Central Division and second in the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday’s home game against the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers.
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