MILWAUKEE — Adrian Griffin knows that his first head coaching job in the NBA comes with high expectations. Taking over the Milwaukee Bucks is not a rebuilding situation. It is a championship situation.

Even though he has not been a head coach in the NBA, he has been a player or assistant coach in the NBA for about 25 years. He survived through hard work, the same trait he’ll stress with the Bucks.

Griffin was not a star in the NBA. He was undrafted and had to ply his trade in the CBA, USBL and Italy and then his nine-year career in the NBA was with six different teams.

He started his coaching career with the Bucks under Scott Skiles after Skiles had to cut him as a player.

Griffin has been around great players. As an assistant coach, he’s worked with MVP’s Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. On the Toronto Raptors championship team, he worked with Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Now, he has Giannis. Griffin said the common thread is “these guys want to work.” That’s Griffin’s language.

Bucks General Manager Jon Horst said Griffin blew everyone away during a thorough interview process. Now comes the hard part — winning. Not just in the regular season but in the playoffs.

Griffin called it “a dream come true.” Bucks fans are hoping the dream lasts awhile.