The Milwaukee Bucks will reportedly strongly consider hiring Doc Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin.
BREAKING: Milwaukee Bucks have dismissed head coach Adrian Griffin, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/BEYUGv30c7
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) January 23, 2024
Milwaukee Bucks will strongly consider Doc Rivers, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 23, 2024
In Griffin’s final game before being dismissed, he coached Milwaukee to a nine-point win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 22.
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
Griffin coached the Bucks to a 30-13 record this season, which is currently the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind only the Boston Celtics, who hold the league’s best record at 34-10.
More details from Woj on the Bucks firing Adrian Griffin: pic.twitter.com/TkEBl2wSxY
— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 23, 2024
“This was an agonizing decision for this Milwaukee organization,” Adrian Wojnarowski said. “They were very fond of Adrian Griffin.”
Rivers served as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers a season ago. He coached the team to a 54-28 record, which was good enough for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers then swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Celtics in seven games in round two.
Following their loss to the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, the 76ers decided to fire Rivers.
The 62-year-old has also had stints as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Celtics and Orlando Magic. He arguably enjoyed the most success when he was coaching the Celtics.
Rivers was the head coach of the storied Celtics franchise for nine seasons, and during that time, he won a title with the team back in 2008 and coached Boston to an NBA Finals appearance in 2010.
The Celtics beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the 2008 NBA Finals to capture the title. But the Lakers would get revenge two years later, as they eliminated Rivers and the Celtics in seven games in the 2010 championship series.
It will be interesting to see who the Bucks decide to bring in to be their newest head coach. But considering Rivers has championship experience and is fresh off coaching the 76ers to 54 regular-season wins and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs, he stands out as someone who might make sense for the Bucks to pursue.
The next game on the Bucks’ regular-season schedule is against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The Cavaliers own the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and are on an eight-game winning streak.
