Despite Inking $40 Million Contract With Doc Rivers, Fired Adrian Griffin and NBA Champion Coach Continue to Haunt Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks have had a bit of coaching problems since the last postseason. After their dramatic first-round exit last season at the hands of the 7th-seeded Miami Heat, they fired head coach Mike Budenholzer. Despite previously taking Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co to the NBA Championship, Budenholzer couldn’t avert getting out of the top job.
Now the Milwaukee Bucks have fired their replacement of Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin, after just 43 games with the team. But it looks like the Bucks’ connection with the former coaches will still remain, at least for a few more years,
Milwaukee Bucks to keep all three on their payroll
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However, this isn’t all. According to reports by Sams Charnia, he is going to be replaced by another head coach who lost his job. Yes, it is none other than the Philadelphia 76ers’ head coach Doc Rivers. He found himself out of a job after Philly suffered a brutal playoff exit in the second round against the Boston Celtics. “Milwaukee is paying out former coaches Mike Budenholzer and Adrian Griffin, and now Rivers for the next 3.5 years,” said Charania’s Instagram update.
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Replacing Griffin with Rivers is especially interesting, as he leaned on the latter for advice this season. Doc who has previously handled stars like Joel Embiid and Harden but was unsuccessful in guiding them through a playoff run has a lot to do with the Bucks. Damian Lillard and Giannis have a similar pairing, but both of them have had significant playoff triumphs earlier.
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Enhancing the Bucks’ defense is a top priority for Rivers, considered crucial for their championship aspirations. Throughout the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, Milwaukee has maintained elite defensive prowess. However, this season, they currently rank 21st in defensive efficiency, contrasting with their second-place offensive rating behind the Indiana Pacers. The team is optimistic that Rivers can elevate their defensive performance, especially with the second half of the season underway.
It would be an understatement to say that Doc’s job isn’t safe. Evidently, Griffin lost his job out of the blue while the Bucks were in the middle of a 7 game win streak. Despite many thinking the Greek freak had a part in it, he asserts that those narratives are false.
Did Giannis Antetokounmpo have anything to do with Doc Rivers’s decision?
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Following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s instrumental role in the Milwaukee Bucks securing a 126-116 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the two-time MVP addressed the media shutting down rumors about his involvement in the firing. Apparently, the rumors were, “False. I loved the guy. I invited him to my wedding, you know? I talked with him. I was coached by him and we did very, very, very well. … At times, they make it seem like it’s the players that are making the decision and this guy got traded because we wanted him, but like no. … I don’t get paid to change people’s lives and make people uncomfortable.”
Read More: Doc Rivers’ Bucks Career Still on Hold as Assistant Coach Steps Up for the Big Occasion
Giannis is undoubtedly the cornerstone around which the Milwaukee Bucks have constructed and continue to shape their franchise. Despite the common notion that superstars wield significant influence over decision-making, “The Greek Freak” categorically rejected such a perception. “I get paid to defend, block shots and I try to stick to that as much as I can. … There’s people that get paid a lot of money to make those decisions and those decisions are hard. … Personally, I don’t want to get involved in that,” said former MVP. Do you think Rivers can get another ring for the Bucks?
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Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Watch This Story: “We Were Not Thinking”: Pacers Justify Infuriating Giannis Antetokounmpo on Career Night With Bizarre Reason
Edited by:
Ruth John