January 24, 2024

Milwaukee Bucks Fire Head Coach Adrian Griffin After 43 Games, Reportedly Hire Doc Rivers

The Milwaukee Bucks fired Griffin although the team has a 30-13 record.

The NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Adrian Griffin Tuesday after just 43 games and an impressive 30-13 record.

“This was a difficult decision to make during the season,” said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. “We are working immediately toward hiring our next head coach. We thank Coach Griffin for his hard work and contributions to the team.”

Originally, the team announced assistant coach Joe Prunty as in the interim head coach—until they reportedly hired veteran basketball coach and current ESPN NBA analyst Doc Rivers.

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference. The team gave no reason for letting Griffin go.

Less than 24 hours after the firing of Griffin, the Bucks reportedly hired Rivers, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and last coached the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Doc Rivers to be the franchise’s next head coach, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/UMeQ7bTK4d

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 24, 2024

Milwaukee hired Griffin last summer after dismissing longtime coach Mike Budenholzer, who led the Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, but flamed out in the playoffs’ first round last year. The offseason featured another big move for the Bucks: a trade with the Portland Trailblazers for perennial All-Star guard Damian Lillard.

Now, the pressure is on Rivers, a veteran coach who was fired from the 76ers last season after winning 50 games for the past two years. The team’s failure to get to the NBA Finals after losing the semifinals for three straight years sealed Rivers’ fate.

His next win will tie him for eighth with Larry Brown for NBA coaching wins. Rivers, who has also coached for the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic, has a win-loss record of 1,097-763 in the regular season. His playoff record is 111-104.