The Bucks parted ways with first-year head coach Adrian Griffin on Tuesday. Could Doc Rivers be the replacement in Milwaukee?
This afternoon, shocking news hit the airwaves as the Bucks fired head coach Adrian Griffin. At 30-13, second place in the Eastern Conference, the move came as a surprise to fans.
The stint goes down as the third-shortest in NBA history.
Griffin’s hiring was not without controversy, as the 49-year-old was accused of assault by his ex-wife back in 2020. The Toronto Raptors, his team at the time, conducted extensive research and opted to stick by Griffin. He has publicly denied any wrongdoing.
Adrian Griffin reportedly lost the Bucks locker room
The Bucks have sometimes looked fractured on the court during the regular season. According to SI’s Chris Mannix, Giannis Antetokounmpo and other teammates had lost faith in their head coach. If true, a move was likely necessary to salvage the locker room.
There have been steady rumblings for weeks in NBA circles that several Bucks veterans, including Giannis, had lost faith in Griffin. What appeared to be smart hire last spring just never worked out.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 23, 2024
Doc Rivers is considered the favorite to replace Griffin as head coach in Milwaukee. Over the past two decades, the former NBA champion has coached the Magic, Celtics, Clippers, and 76ers.
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Rivers has routinely underachieved as a head coach, according to his detractors. Even with supremely talented rosters, he only has one championship on his resume. But, with Antetokounmpo in tow, Rivers would have an opportunity at a title any given year.
Rivers will allow his stars to control the tempo on court while supporting them with proper rotations. Milwaukee has struggled with that in the 2023-2024 regular season. The Bucks roster is deep; it just needs better management as a whole.
Doc Rivers can further stamp his Hall of Fame career with a title in Milwaukee
For all the shortcomings in Rivers’ career, sans his 2008 title with Boston, he’s still held in high regard in league circles. If the veteran leader takes over, he has a chance to quiet all the doubters.
Giannis and Damian Lillard are as good as any duo in the NBA. The trick is getting the right players around them at the correct time. Plus, Rivers’ experience should help out in late-game situations.
The Bucks are planning to quickly pursue a small pool of accomplished and available veteran head coaches — with Doc Rivers near the top of the list, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/1a5y77Dcvd
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2024
Expect the Milwaukee front office to move swiftly in naming a replacement — don’t be surprised if it ends up being Rivers.
