Tragic news: A crucial player’s retirement was announced by the Milwaukee Bucks head coach because he left his contract to sign a new one.

Adrian Griffin was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, and general manager Jon Horst stated that he tried his utmost to personally and promptly notify the players. On Wednesday, Horst spoke to the team as a whole during the shootaround, but reporters were not allowed to speak with him afterwards.

The players’ first public comments regarding the coaching change were made on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum following their 126-116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Below is a selection of quotes from the Bucks’ starting lineup and key rotation players.

How did you feel about Adrian Griffin’s termination?
Antetokounmpo Giannis: Of course, it’s difficult. You established connections with individuals. And then, without warning, they vanished from this place. I believe that for a coach like Griff, unity was the focus from the beginning. He consistently guided this group in the direction we decided upon at the start of the year. And since we are all humans, it aches that he isn’t here. Everyone in the group. However, we must continue forward toward our mental objective of being the finest basketball squad possible. Since this is the NBA’s business, there are undoubtedly a lot of high expectations from the ownership group, the front office, and ourselves to perform well. That kind of situation has happened to me before. I am aware of how things operate. I have to keep going forward.

Khris Middleton: It caught me off guard. particularly at this time of year. However, I hate to say that it’s a business. This is regrettable; it occurred to me in a previous season. “Griff” was excellent during his stay here. He gave it his all and was a major factor in our team’s many victories. All I can hope for is that he has the best possible future. I’m sure he’ll have another opportunity, and I wish him luck in the future.

Lori Nickel: Jon Horst, general manager of the Bucks, took a risk once more.

Speaking during the news conference that dismissed Adrian Griffin as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in the Jim Paschke Interview Room at Fiserv Forum, is general manager of the team Jon Horst.
Damian Lillard: It is part of the business, as we are aware. We are aware that there are standards. Our crew has been held to high expectations. Things are supposed to appear in a specific way. Our triumph has come after a somewhat rocky start, which is occasionally a necessary part of the journey, but as I mentioned before, I was taken aback. It is included in the game. It’s never something you want to see when people are fired, waived, or traded. Since we all return home to our own time and lives at the end of the day and deal with our emotions and experiences, you as a person would never want to see someone else go through that, experience that, pick themselves up, and simply move on to the next thing. However, I believe that this is a component of the game that we all enter. It’s regrettable. “Griff” was a really nice guy. It was fun to be with him. I am grateful to him for his accommodating nature towards me and my personal predicament, and I cherish the time we spent together. However, that’s the unpleasant aspect of the game and part of it.