The list of candidates for the Jazz’s head-coaching vacancy just keeps getting longer, with Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and Suns assistant Kevin Young among the many lined up for an interview, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Both Griffin and Young had been mentioned as possibilities for the Utah job in previous reports.
Along with those two, the Jazz are expected to interview former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and a host of assistants. That includes Alex Jensen and Lamar Skeeter of the Jazz, as well as Chris Quinn of the Heat. (You can check the others in this post.)
Griffin, 47, has been an assistant with the Raptors since 2018. Before that, he was an assistant with the Magic, Thunder, Bulls and Bucks, dating back to 2008. He also played in the NBA from 1999-2008 with six different teams.
While Griffin has been a candidate in multiple spots, including with the Lakers, Pelicans and Cavaliers, he has never been able to land a head-coaching gig. Raptors president Masai Ujiri said at a recent press conference that he thinks Griffin is ready.
“I think Adrian is right there on the cusp of becoming a head coach in this league,” Ujiri said.
Meanwhile, Young has served as a head coach in the G League, and has been an assistant in Phoenix since 2020. Just before that, he served as an assistant with the 76ers for three years.
Young is actually a native of Salt Lake City and coached at Utah Valley State in 2007-08 before coaching the Utah Flash of the G League from 2009-11. That franchise eventually moved to Delaware and became the Blue Coats.
The Jazz are looking to replace Quin Snyder, who stepped down after eight seasons.
“I have my ideas, but we really haven’t discussed it internally with the rest of the staff, or with (team owner Ryan Smith),” Jazz CEO Danny Ainge said earlier this week. “… I have a few (in mind), but I’m not sure I even know them well enough to give you their names. But it’s the very beginning of the process.”
More must-reads: