NBA contenders Milwaukee Bucks sack coach mid-season in brutal axing

The Milwaukee Bucks have stunned the NBA by sacking their coach halfway through the season despite being one of the league’s best teams.

The Milwaukee Bucks sacked their coach midseason.

The Milwaukee Bucks have sacked head coach Adrian Griffin halfway through the NBA season.

In the most brutal move of the NBA season so far, the Bucks have fired Griffin following a lacklustre start to Milwaukee’s campaign.

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Griffin, 49, was hired as coach in the off-season after Milwaukee last May sacked Mike Budenholzer, who coached the Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship.

ESPN and The Athletic reported on Wednesday (AEDT) the Bucks had made the call to move on from Griffin.

Assistant Joe Prunty is expected to be named interim coach.

“This was a difficult decision to make during the season,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement.

“We are working immediately toward hiring our next head coach. We thank Coach Griffin for his hard work and contributions to the team.”

The Bucks sit second in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-13 win-loss record, four games behind championship favourites the Boston Celtics.

Adrian Griffin has been sacked by the Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are chasing an NBA title. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP.

Just behind Milwaukee are the Philadelphia 76ers, led by reigning MVP Joel Embiid and likely Most Improved winner Tyrese Maxey.

Milwaukee traded Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard in the off-season and while Lillard has been solid in clutch time, the Milwaukee’s defence has fallen off and they haven’t looked quite like a championship contender under Griffin.

The Bucks have allowed 120.5 points per game, the sixth-most in the NBA.

The Bucks will need veteran big man Brook Lopez and injury riddled star Khris Middleton to rediscover their best form to win the championship.

Nonetheless, it’s a brutal sacking given the team has the equal second best record in the league.

Bucks title odds = 📈📈📈 https://t.co/VkXvZWse0C

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 23, 2024

Podcaster J.E. Skeets tweeted: “The Bucks are 30-13 (second in the East). This league is RUTHLESS. (And this is probably the right move.).”

Doc Rivers, who coached the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title but struggled in stints with other teams, has reportedly emerged as a serious candidate to become Milwaukee’s new head coach.

Doc Rivers is a candidate for the Bucks coaching job. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said: “They (Milwaukee) have such a tight championship window.

“This is Milwaukee team we’ve seen at every turn trying to maximise this championship window. They make a really difficult decision to move on from Adrian Griffin.

“They want an accomplished veteran head coach who’s available and I’m told that Doc Rivers is among the very serious candidates that Milwaukee is going to look at.”

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said: “Doc Rivers would be an upgrade over Adrian Griffin. Joining mid-season with such limited practice time is such a challenge though.”

Rivers has worked as an ESPN colour commentator since being sacked by the Philadelphia 76ers following another early playoffs exit.

Originally published as NBA contenders Milwaukee Bucks sack coach mid-season in brutal axing