![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1464868554.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 10: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal attends SiriusXM At Super Bowl LVII on February 10, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1464868554.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 10: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal attends SiriusXM At Super Bowl LVII on February 10, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The Milwaukee Bucks are 30-13 in the Eastern Conference with a decorated team that is ready to run for the championship. Although everything looked smooth, the Bucks decided to make a huge decision by firing their head coach Adrian Griffin. Reports revealed that Giannis Antetokounmpo lost faith in the veteran coach. Another notable reason was the lack of defense, especially in close-out games. Well, Shaquille O’Neal believes there is something suspicious, and he has put the blame on the Bucks players for the firing of Griffin.
It’s safe to say the Bucks are title contenders for this season. However, they believe that they need a few more changes to make a difference in the postseason. Anyhow, firing the head coach was not the first thing that the fans expected.
BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks dismissed coach Adrian Griffin, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UK1MGlKyrY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Shaq shared during the NBA on TNT, “Something else is going on…3rd best record in the league, 2nd best record in the East, new players, new coaching staff. I have always been a firm believer that…we, as players, gotta do it. You know we talk about defensive numbers, you have to want to play defense.”
The Bucks are not flooded with defensive players, but Shaq believes it is up to them to change the narrative and the coach is not the one to blame. He also firmly believes that nothing is going to change if the Bucks keep firing their coaches.
Bucks now have a history of firing great NBA coaches
This is not the first time the city of Milwaukee was left in disbelief. Coach Mike Budenholzer joined the Bucks back in 2017, and for the next three years, the lights were bright for the team. In his first season there, the Bucks finished with a 60-22 record when they lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round. Two years later, the hustle helped them bring a championship home.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: “Who has reached 10,000 career points faster than Luka Doncic?”
Last season, the Bucks finished with the top seed once again, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round to the 8th seeded Miami Heat. Suddenly, they decided to get rid of the main pieces. Before Jrue Holiday was traded, Budenholzer was fired, and the Bucks got a new look in a span of weeks.
Now again, they are back to square one. This has pushed Shaq to believe that there is something wrong inside the team. The LA champion wants the player to take more ownership from now on so that the front office does not fire the wrong ones.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Shaq?