Adrian Griffin has been reportedly hired as Milwaukee Bucks’ new head coach. He will replace Mike Budenholzer.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the news, citing sources.

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Griffin was the Toronto Raptors’ assistant since 2018. His contract with the Bucks will be announced soon. As per ESPN sources, Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst was ‘sold on Griffin’s leadership presence, character and ability to oversee high-level defensive teams’.

Following their shocking exit in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer. Former Raptors coach Nick Nurse was seen as the frontrunner for the job for weeks.

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Griffin will now pair up with two-time MVP – Greek powerhouse – Giannis Antetokounmpo. Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report said that the Bucks star endorsed the new head coach over Nurse.

The report states that Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were invited by Horst for dinner on Thursday night. They discussed Griffin’s hiring. Bleacher Report further added that the 48-year-old was one of three finalists along with Nurse and former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Nick Nurse withdrew his name from consideration on Saturday.

“Giannis was very engaged in the hiring process. His word held a ton of weight (no surprise there). He gets his guy in Adrian Griffin. There was a dinner held by Horst to discuss the hire…both Giannis and Khris Middleton were invited 👀….Middy will remain a Buck,” a Twitter user noted.

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“There is a lot to unpack here, but at the end of the day, I like the hiring. I would have preferred Atkinson, but if Giannis preferred Griffin, you gotta keep the big man happy,” another one added.

Adrian Griffin started his coaching career in Milwaukee in 2008. He the moved to Oklahoma City, Orlando and Chicago. His playing career spanned around nine seasons. He played for Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Houston and Seattle.

The 48-year-old started eight games in the playoffs for the Dallas Mavericks in 2006.