It was a telling scene.

The last week-and-a-half of Adrian Griffin’s tenure as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks featured an increased front-office presence, league sources told Bleacher Report.

General manager Jon Horst and assistant GM Milt Newton began observing practices and shootarounds. Observing isn’t uncommon, as most executives do so from a distance while standing near their office.

But the Bucks’ front office observing from the sidelines of practice sessions recently began raising eyebrows of coaching staff and players, sources say.

And about a week later, Griffin was fired after coaching 43 games in which he guided the team to a 30-13 record that stands as the second-best in the league.

Despite the record, this was a move many saw coming.

“I appreciate the opportunity the Bucks gave me. You can’t control everything,” Griffin told Bleacher Report in a phone interview soon after his ouster. “I feel good about the job we did. I appreciate my coaching staff for all their hard work. I always wanted to be a head coach in this league. I couldn’t have asked for a better roster. I got to coach Giannis, Dame, Khris, Brook. Dream come true. Hopefully I get another shot at it, but overall, I’m just thankful.”

Griffin, 49, is dismissed four months into the season off a four-year deal he signed in June 2023. The Bucks are still on the hook for the remainder of Mike Budenholzer’s salary, meaning they will be paying the salary of three head coaches once this next coaching search is completed relatively soon.

Griffin interviewed for an NBA head coaching gig on 14 different occasions in a span of 13 years before finally landing with the Bucks.

Milwaukee was fresh off a first-round defeat by the Miami Heat last season, placing the franchise in a state of unknown.

The Bucks fired Budenholzer and didn’t know if they were re-signing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Lopez was receiving heavy traction from Houston in free agency. They also weren’t sure if Giannis Antetokounmpo would be extending.

Milwaukee braced for the possibility of taking a step back during the 2023-24 season.

All those factors contributed to why the Bucks felt comfort in offering the head coaching job to someone who never held the title prior.

However, when the Bucks surprisingly pulled off the offseason’s biggest acquisition by trading for Damian Lillard, expectations suddenly changed.

And Griffin suddenly found himself in a win-now-or-else proposition.

The defense took a dip, and while the offense has been stellar at times, it lacked fluidity and consistency. Players privately complained about their roles, touches, chemistry and constantly questioned the schemes on both sides of the ball.

Griffin attempted to draw the core players closer by having an airing-out session.

After their loss to the Indiana Pacers in the In-Season Tournament, Griffin called a meeting with Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and Lopez, sources say.

All four spoke on what was working, what wasn’t working and how they could best be utilized. Griffin was stern in telling the players that sacrifice was required, sources say.

He brought up the fact that when Antetokounmpo and Lillard drove to the hoop, several of their teammates would often be open. And he chastised them for not consistently bringing defensive energy to the game.

The players valued the opportunity to let their hair down. In the end, Milwaukee won seven straight games. Still, something wasn’t quite right. The arguments in the locker room persisted and there were no clear victories.

According to reports, the Bucks are currently focusing on Doc Rivers to take Griffin’s spot. Rivers works for ESPN as a color commentator right now.

According to insiders, Milwaukee has also developed a short list of contenders that includes Jeff Van Gundy and Nate McMillan.

However, given his background in coaching athletes, Rivers might eventually have the advantage.

According to insiders, the Bucks intend to appoint a new head coach as soon as possible.

Because Griffin gradually lost access to the locker room, the front management felt a significant adjustment was required.