Crowder: Bucks Collapse Began When They Fired Adrian Griffin

Free agent Jae Crowder says the Bucks' "downfall began" when Milwaukee fired first-year coach Adrian Griffin after a 30-13 start in 2023-24. Griffin was replaced by Doc Rivers despite a roster upgrade that included Damian Lillard. Two seasons later the Bucks sit 18-27, Giannis Antetokounmpo is rehabbing and appears likely to be moved before the Feb. 5 deadline, and the franchise faces the real risk of a prolonged rebuild. Merlin notes The Athletic reporting that "players began to question Griffin's schemes" and that leadership felt Griffin's fit was unsustainable. The visible relief after his firing now reads like foreshadowing. With chemistry frayed, repeated early playoff exits, and uncertainty around Giannis, Milwaukee’s slide feels structural not accidental.