Aug 12, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game while leading the team after head coach Nick Nurse stepped down for a the night to let Griffin coach against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers request to interview Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin

Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Rory Maher | Last updated 5/4/22

The Los Angeles Lakers have requested permission to interview Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin for their head coaching vacancy, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Raptors president and chairman Masai Ujiri said at his end-of-season press conference yesterday that he’s been receiving calls for interviews with Griffin and other Raptors assistant coaches, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.

Masai said he's been getting calls about Adrian Griffin, among other Raptors assistants. It would appear one of those calls was from the Lakers.

"I think Adrian is right there on the cusp of becoming a head coach in this league"- Ujiri on Griffin yesterday. https://t.co/0x7Q5seOpJ
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 4, 2022

Griffin started his NBA career as a player, appearing in 477 games (179 starts) across nine NBA seasons from 1999-2008 with career averages of 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes. He made a quick transition to coaching, getting his start at just 34 years old, the season after he retired as a player.

Griffin, 47, has been an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Raptors over the past 14 seasons, having been with Toronto since 2018-19.

The Lakers were rumored to be interested in Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, but both Nurse and Ujiri poured cold water on that recently. Griffin is now the second official candidate interviewing for the Lakers lead coaching job, following Bucks assistant Darvin Ham.

This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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