Ever since Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo burst onto the scene as the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2016-17, there have been attempts by other teams (and the national media) to pry him away from the team that drafted him. Indeed, there are not many more coveted players in the NBA than the Bucks’ star. Despite the fact that he has signed numerous nine-figure contracts with Milwaukee, every offseason brings more and more discourse regarding “when will Giannis leave?”
For his part, Giannis has said, time and again, that as long as the Bucks are committed to winning NBA titles, he is not going to leave Milwaukee. That being said, the onus has been, and continues to be, on the Bucks front office to make sure that they are proving to Giannis that their decisions are for the betterment of the team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Reportedly Was Unhappy with 1 Milwaukee Bucks Coach Being Fired
Part of the delicate balance that the Bucks’ front office needs to maintain is that of making moves that will benefit the team, but also not negatively affect their superstar’s view of their own desire to win.
When Jon Horst made the trade for Damian Lillard, he did not want Giannis to know about it because he knew his two-time MVP would not want to part ways with Jrue Holiday. However, the front office knew that landing Lillard would continue to show Giannis that they are as committed to winning as he is.
That being said, there were certain decisions that the team made last year in which Giannis was involved. One of these was the now-infamous hiring of Adrian Griffin has head coach. Apparently, the Greek Freak had selected Griffin out of the three finalists because he did not want to play for Nick Nurse, another finalist.
Of course, Griffin was fired and Doc Rivers brought in to replace him. Rivers kept all of Griffin’s assistants on staff for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, but has since dismissed some in favor of his own selections.
One of the first coaches fired was Josh Oppenheimer, who happened to be one of Giannis’ favorite coaches. According to reports, he was not happy when he heard of Oppenheimer’s firing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wanted the Milwaukee Bucks to Get Darvin Ham Back
One of the additions that Rivers has made to his coaching staff is to bring in former Los Angeles Lakers head coach, and former Bucks assistant, Darvin Ham. Before being hired by the Lakers, Ham was the lead assistant for former head coach Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee.
According to Bucks insider Gery Woelfel, Giannis had something to do with Ham coming back to Milwaukee:
I recently chatted with a few NBA sources since ex-Lakers HC Darvin Ham joined the Bucks staff.
They were adamant in saying Giannis Antetokounmpo had major input in Ham’s hiring (shocking, eh?)
Some of those same sources also contend Ham, who had offers from seversl other teams,…— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) June 19, 2024
Perhaps the Bucks hired Ham back in an attempt to make up for firing one of his favorite coaches? It is possible, but the addition of Ham to the coaching staff is a win either way. He knows the players and what their strengths are.
Even if Giannis had a hand in it, there is no doubt this move was what was best for the team.
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