LOS ANGELES – Adrian Griffin has come full circle and back to the place where he feels he belongs, as the Milwaukee Bucks confirmed his appointment as the team’s new head coach on Monday.

Griffin, 48, rejoins after spending the past five seasons as an assistant at the Toronto Raptors.

“Adrian is a widely respected coach and former player, who brings great leadership and experience to our team,” said Bucks general manager Jon Horst of the former Milwaukee assistant coach.

“His championship-level coaching pedigree, character, basketball acumen and ability to connect with and develop players make him the ideal choice to lead our team. He has earned this opportunity.”

In another statement from Bucks co-owners Wes Edens, Jamie Dinan and Dee and Jimmy Haslam, the group said: “Adrian is well-regarded throughout the NBA, and we believe that his vast experience working under and playing for successful head coaches makes him the right person to guide our team in competing for championships.

“Following a widespread coaching search, we are extremely impressed by Adrian’s leadership and communication skills, and welcome him to the Bucks family.”

Griffin’s appointment – endorsed by star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo – follows Milwaukee’s shock first-round exit from the Eastern Conference play-offs after losing to the eight-seeded Miami Heat, which led to Mike Budenholzer’s sacking on May 4.

“The Bucks are a championship organisation and I’m thrilled to work with an established roster of high character and talented players,” he said in a statement. “I’m excited to be back in Milwaukee and I can’t wait to get started.”

He began his coaching career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) at the Bucks in 2008, when he worked as an assistant to then head coach Scott Skiles.

He joined the team following a nine-year NBA playing career that saw him having stints with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls and Seattle SuperSonics.

His challenge will be to ensure the Bucks are title contenders again. They finished the 2022-2023 regular season with the league’s best record of 58-24.

In fact, they had managed to secure the best record on another two occasions under two-time Coach of the Year Budenholzer, who also guided them to their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021. AFP