NBA: Terry Stotts leaves role as Bucks assistant before start of season

MILWAUKEE— Former NBA head coach Terry Stotts’ return to the league as a Milwaukee Bucks assistant has reached a sudden conclusion a week before the start of the season. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin confirmed Stotts’ departure from Milwaukee’s staff while speaking to reporters after a practice Thursday. Griffin declined to comment on the circumstances but said the move was Stotts’ decision. “It caught all of us off guard, of course, but again, you just support him,” Griffin said. “He was a terrific guy. I learned a lot from him in a very short time. He was really good at what he does. He made a decision –- a personal decision -– and we just have to respect that.” ESPN first reported Stotts’ departure. Stotts’ experience was expected to give Griffin a boost as the former Toronto Raptors assistant begins his head coaching career by taking over a team with championship expectations. The Bucks open their season Oct. 26 by hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. Stotts’ presence also would have provided some familiarity with newly acquired seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard, who spent his first nine NBA seasons playing for Stotts with the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard said Stotts contacted him directly Wednesday to let him know about the move. “Everybody was kind of surprised by it,” Lillard said. “It kind of came out of nowhere. I’ve been in this league long enough to know that these types of things happen. Everything continues, so you’ve got to kind of process things like this and other things that may come up and continue to move forward. “For me, knowing Terry as long as I’ve known him -– playing for him for nine years and him also making this transition for me easier just having a familiar face be such a huge part of it — was a good thing. I think now that I’m settled in, to see him go is unfortunate. It’s sad to see him go. But like I said, everything is still moving forward.” Stotts owns a career head coaching record of 517-486 that includes stints with the Atlanta Hawks (2002-04), Bucks (2005-07) and Trail Blazers (2012-21). Lillard said he didn’t expect this sudden move to hinder the Bucks’ focus heading into the season. “It didn’t come with a lot of drama,” Lillard said. “Me knowing him so well, it just wasn’t a dramatic, big deal. It was just a decision