New Milwaukee Bucks head coach is looking to make it 2-0 to start his career as an NBA coach when they take on the Atlanta Hawks at the Fiserv Forum. The Bucks are coming off a 118-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener, and they will now want to make it two straight wins to open their campaign.
There’s also one major reason why Griffin has been anticipating this contest for nearly a decade.
Milwaukee Bucks HC Adrian Griffin Has a Lot Riding on Sunday
Speaking ahead of the Hawks game, Griffin revealed why this contest means so much to him. It will be the first opportunity he will face his son, AJ Green, now that the former is an NBA head coach.
Griffin has faced his son in the past, with AJ actually holding a 2-1 series advantage against his dad. This was during Adrian’s time as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
The Bucks coach “joked he has more help this time around,” referencing his superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (h/t Bucks beat reporter Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop).
The Milwaukee shot-caller also revealed that “he’s probably had this game circled since AJ was two years old.”
AJ, 20, is a 6-foot-6 small forward, who is now playing his second season with the Hawks. Last summer, Atlanta scooped him up from the draft as the No. 16 overall pick after an impressive single season with Duke. As a rookie, AJ produced averages of 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, while also connecting on 1.4 triples per contest.
The swingman played 19.5 minutes per contest last term, but he could be in line for more minutes in his sophomore year.
In spite of all the love and affection, however, their father-and-son relationship will need to temporarily be set aside on Sunday night.
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