The Los Angeles Lakers have started their search for a new head coach in a slow and patient manner. They’ve only been reported to be requesting (and later granted) permission to interview Bucks assistant Darvin Ham for their head coaching vacancy following the firing of Frank Vogel. They’ve now been reported to be requesting permission for another head coach candidate in Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported this in the following video:
Lakers request permission to interview Toronto Raptors assistant for LA’s head coaching job, sources say: pic.twitter.com/Ej1iSe0xqN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 4, 2022
“The Lakers are planning to interview Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as part of the search for their next head coach. Griffin joins Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as two known candidates so far for the job, and expect the Lakers management to take a patient and diligent approach to this coaching search.”
Charania goes on to list Griffin’s resume which most recently includes his current assistant role under Nick Nurse with the Raptors. He joined the franchise in 2018, coaching on the 2019 NBA champions team. He’s been an assistant in the NBA since 2008, previously having roles with the Bucks (2008-10), Bulls (2010-15), Magic (2015-16), and Thunder (2016-18).
Adrian Griffin coincidentally enough has a near similar history as Darvin Ham. Both have been assistant coaches in the NBA for a decade plus following NBA careers that lasted around a decade. Both have won NBA championships in one of the past three seasons (while Ham won a championship as well as a player in 2004 while on the Pistons when they beat the Lakers).
I’m sure the Lakers will have no issue receiving permission from Masai Ujiri and the Raptors franchise in their intentions of interviewing Griffin, but the timing of this report from Charania is funny only a day removed from Ujiri essentially laughing at the idea of the Lakers being serious about wanting to acquire Nick Nurse for the same head coaching vacancy.
It’s unknown whether or not the Lakers have completed their interview with Ham, or if/when they’ll get to talk to Griffin, but either way, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on reports surrounding them as well as all other rumored names on the site.
