The 2023-24 NBA season is rapidly approaching, and the Milwaukee Bucks will be attempting to bounce back in a major way.
Of course, last season ended in embarrassing fashion for the Bucks, who boasted the top seed in the league only to fall to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in round one. As a whole, the Bucks have something to prove, but there are certainly some individuals who have more than others to prove. With that said, let’s look at seven Milwaukee Bucks who fit the description.
Milwaukee Bucks with something to prove – Coach Adrian Griffin
It’d be unfair to mount significant pressure on a first-year head coach, but Adrian Griffin is going to be under a microscope this coming season. While many agreed that the Bucks were due for a new leading voice, they fired a proven championship-winning coach in Mike Budenholzer. They have an eclectic superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo and need to win now while he’s in his prime.
No one is expecting Griffin to be the next Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich right away, but he’s got to showcase his ability to be a competent coach. There will be growing pains, but Griffin has to prove that he can handle the pressure and adversity that comes with being an NBA coach, especially for a team with one of the best players in the world that is competing for a title.
Griffin won’t be on the hot seat or anything this year, but it would certainly be something if Bucks fans were clamoring for Mike Budenholzer to return at any point next season. Griffin’s job will be to make sure that doesn’t happen. He’s been in the hunt for a head coaching gig for a long time, and he’s finally got the chance to prove that he was well deserving of it.