• Adran Griffin Sr. spilled the beans on his preliminary conversations with Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Griffin was named head coach of the Bucks in the summer after Mike Budenholzer’s departure
• Giannis has warned the Bucks that he will not extend his contract next season if he doesn’t trust the franchise can win another title
The Milwaukee Bucks are heading into their highest-pressure season since the 2020-21 season that ended in a championship. With Giannis Antetokounmpo hinting at a possible exit, this season will throw rookie head coach Adrian Griffin Sr. into the fire, as he has to win now to keep Giannis around. He knows that and reiterated their desire to win in an interview with Bally Sports.
“Giannis and I are on the same page. We have a great relationship so far. He’s been pleasant to get to know. He wants to win, and I want to win. It’s that simple. I respect him. I respect what he’s accomplished in this league. We’re here together to win. I have no problem with that. I think it’s a great partnership. We’re going to lead the team together. When he leads, the others will follow. I think it’s great.”
Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists last regular season. He got hurt in the playoffs but looked unimpressive even when he was healthy, as the Bucks lost to the Miami Heat in five games as the No. 1 seed.
Will A Coaching Refresh Help The Bucks?
The Bucks are going down a very interesting route by picking Adrian Griffin Sr., a man who has never been a head coach in the NBA before. A similar strategy has paid off for various teams in past years, such as Steve Kerr and Nick Nurse winning titles in their rookie head coaching season in the NBA.
Darvin Ham is a former Milwaukee assistant and had great success in his first year as the Lakers head coach. Rookie coaching season can be successful if the pieces are provided to the coach. The Bucks have a stagnant core with a new voice, as the core still features some of the best players in the NBA.
A more fluid system with tactical improvisation could help Milwaukee, as most of their playoff losses in the Budenholzer era came down to the coach running out of the same system and hoping it could work out even when opposing teams have successfully schemed against it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Headed To Pastures New?
Giannis still has two years on his contract, so talks of him leaving are a little premature. He himself brought up the fact that he won’t extend this season, sending a clear message to the front office that they have to maximize this season.
Giannis is already extension-eligible and will be in the final year of his current contract in 2024-25, so the Bucks cannot afford to play him as an impending free agent.
The best course would be to trade Giannis away next summer if he is determined to make a move, as a team would trade the Bucks’ real assets to help with their rebuild. Whether it’s New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, there’ll be many teams circling around Milwaukee to see if Giannis will be available on the market.
This could be the biggest move in the NBA in recent years, maybe even as impactful as Kevin Durant‘s move to the Nets in 2019. Wherever Giannis goes will become an instant title contender, but the Bucks still have the best chance as the home team, provided they can continue fielding a competitive team.
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