The Memphis Grizzlies decided to part ways with J.B. Bickerstaff after failing to reach the postseason, leaving the team in search of a new head coach. At this point, it's not clear who the Grizzlies might choose to fill the position, but it sounds like they're interested in Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.
According to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies have already met with Griffin:
The Memphis Grizzlies recently interviewed Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin for the franchise’s head coaching job, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 21, 2019
Griffin, now 44 years of age, has quite a bit of experience in the NBA. A native of Wichita, Kansas, he played his collegiate ball at Seton Hall before serving nine years as a guard/small forward in the pros.
Griffin's first coaching job came with the Milwaukee Bucks. Shortly after his playing career was over, the Bucks, who were then-led by head coach Scott Skiles, hired Griffin as an assistant.
After two seasons with Milwaukee, Griffin moved on to Chicago, where he served under Tom Thibodeau as an assistant with the Bulls for five years.
Griffin has served as a top assistant for a few other teams as well, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Orlando Magic and the Raptors.
Aside from his NBA experience, Griffin has also served on the Team USA bench. In 2014, he and his coaching staff went on to win the Gold Medal in the FIBA World Cup.
Whether or not the Grizzlies will hire Griffin remains to be seen, but there is clearly a level of interest in the idea.
The Grizzlies have met with other coaching candidates, including Jazz assistant Alex Jensen and Warriors assistant Jarron Collins. As of now, Memphis is the only NBA team that is still looking for a head coach.
Follow Us
Subscribe