Atlanta Hawks’ AJ Griffin sends powerful message to Bucks HC

It was a chance for Atlanta Hawks rookie AJ Griffin to turn the tables.

Griffin, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is the son of former NBA forward and longtime assistant coach Adrian Griffin. The two even got to share a moment when Junior hit a game-winner over Senior’s Toronto Raptors during the regular season. But now, AJ Griffin got to express his joy over his father’s latest move: head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

“That’s why you walk by faith! So Proud of you pops,” the younger Griffin tweeted on May 27. “@NBACoachGriffin #Godisgood.”

The elder Griffin spent nine seasons in the NBA, suiting up for five teams after entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Seton Hall in 1999. He retired after the 2008 season and began his coaching career in Milwaukee under then-head coach Scott Skiles.

Griffin has lofty shoes to fill.

He takes over for former Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer who left for the Bucks to avoid a rebuild. Budenholzer spent five seasons with the Bucks, guiding them to their third NBA Finals in franchise history and the second championship but even that – and a 58-win season and top-seeding in the playoffs – could not stave off his firing.

The Bucks were bounced in the first round this season and were felled in the second round in each of Budenholzer’s other three seasons at the helm.

It’s still a great setup for Griffin, though Trae Young teased they aren’t sending over any help.

Griffin spoke about the tight bond he felt with his teammates in what turned out to be a historic rookie campaign for the former Duke Blue Devil who was projected to be a lottery pick but slid all the way into the Hawks’ lap.

His father may not get to coach his son in Milwaukee. But he does have Giannis Antetokoumpo who was said to be a part of the interview process.

Antetokounmpo is also believed to have signed off on the hiring.

Griffin also spent time on different coaching staffs with the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Orlando Magic.

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young calls out Hall of Famer

Young also addressed another former Bull, six-time champion and Hall-of-Famer Scottie Pippen whose latest take on the G.O.A.T. debate between his Bulls teammate Michael Jordan and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has caused quite a stir.

So much so that Young joked he thought it was computer generated.

If there is one thing that seems certain, the G.O.A.T debate can even get NBA players going just as it often does fans.