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Memphis Grizzlies: Which is the Best Among Six Head Coach Candidates?

By Christian Dudley

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, center Jordan Bell (2), assistant coach Ron Adams, assistant coach Jarron Collins, guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on during game three of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 18, 2019 at Staples Center in Las Angeles, CA.(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, center Jordan Bell (2), assistant coach Ron Adams, assistant coach Jarron Collins, guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) look on during game three of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 18, 2019 at Staples Center in Las Angeles, CA.(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies Adrian Griffin
The Memphis Grizzlies are showing interest in Adrian Griffin (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Adrian Griffin

Ed Wilson: “Out of the six names reported to be candidates for the Memphis Grizzlies’ head coaching job, I’m only interested in half of the list. The half that garners my interest is Nate Tibbets of the Portland Trail Blazers, Jarron Collins of the Golden State Warriors, and Adrian Griffin of the Toronto Raptors.

Of those mentioned, the candidate I say makes the most sense is Adrian Griffin. Griff played 9 seasons in the NBA as a defensive specialist mostly on playoff teams, which goes a long way with earning the benefit of the doubt from players, especially when preaching defense and hard work. He even started on the 2006 Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals team.

Adrian also has not only helped coach several playoff teams, but also helped coach Team USA in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Adrian was able to work with and further develop guys like Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Stephen Curry. That 2014 Team USA went on to claim the gold by the way.

One of the reasons Adrian Griffin was selected to help coach such superstars on Team USA is because he already had the experience of coming up the ranks under several successful head coaching regimes. Some of those head coaches are Scott Skiles in Milwaukee, Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City, and currently Nick Nurse in Toronto.

In addition, he also worked with players such as MVP season Derrick Rose in Chicago in the legendary Thibodeau defense. Griffin helped coach Russell Westbrook in OKC, as well as Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry in Toronto this season.

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He does not have head coaching experience yet, but neither does any of the other candidates as far as the NBA is concerned at least. Griffin not only has nearly a decade as an NBA coach, but also nearly a decade as an NBA player. That speaks volumes in any room. Adrian not only worked with and developed several superstar NBA players, but he also worked with several superstar point guards. This serves Memphis well in a plan to draft Ja Morant as the next co-face of the franchise along side Jaren Jackson Jr.

In speaking of Jaren, his father Jaren Sr. played in the NBA around the same time Adrian did, so there is even more credibility and familiarity with his approach to things than most. Adrian may not strike one as handsome and charismatic as, say, a Nate Tibbetts, but his reputation, experience, and résumé is far and beyond anyone else reported as a candidate. He also fits the “Grit-‘N’-Grind” culture of the Memphis Grizzlies. Identifying with the culture of Memphis is certainly not something to take lightly. Just ask Tubby Smith, Marc Iavaroni, and a few others.”

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