The Los Angeles Lakers have requested permission to interview Toronto Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin for their head coaching vacancy, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Griffin has no prior NBA head coaching experience but he's been a part of various staffs (Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder) since 2008. He's worked for Nick Nurse since 2018, helping steer the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship. (The Lakers are reportedly interested in Nurse, too, but that seems to be a longshot, despite his ties to Klutch and Phil Jackson.)

Griffin played for five different franchises across nine NBA seasons (1999-2008).

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after a three point shot against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Bill Simmons drops Lakers conspiracy theory to give Knicks fans hopeJulian Ojeda ·
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) leave a court after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 in game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic give Lakers their own unique 2-timeline issueAnthony Irwin ·
Feb 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
NBA rumors: LeBron James, James Harden potential free agency departures unlikelyZachary Draves ·
timberwolves, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
1 player Minnesota Timberwolves must trade in 2025 offseasonGarrett Kerman ·
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts to his team losing the lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves late in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Lakers’ JJ Redick link up with Les Snead at Rams campMiguel La Torre ·
image thumbnail
Sources: Lakers split on trading core playersAnthony Irwin ·

The Lakers have also requested permission to interview Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, who carries a similar resumé. Ham played eight NBA seasons around the turn of the century and has been a respected assistant — and considered a head coach-in-waiting — for years. Ham began his coaching career in 2011 as an assistant for the Lakers. He's served on Mike Budenholzer's staff since 2018, earning a ring last summer.

The Lakers are conducting a methodical search for their next head coach, who will presumably be responsible for overseeing the end of LeBron James' championship window. At his press conference on exit interview day after firing Frank Vogel, Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said the organization was prioritizing candidates with a “strong voice” who can command a star-laden roster. With that in mind, it's safe to assume that anybody the Lakers consider without prior head coaching experience will be a former player.

Pelinka said the Lakers want to have a new coach in place before the NBA Draft on June 23rd.