Bulls assistant Griffin resigns

After one season on the Bulls’ bench, Adrian Griffin resigned his position as an assistant coach to spend more time with his family. Griffin, 38, has two girls and two boys.

The decision caught the Bulls by surprise, but with the NBA sitting through an indefinite lockout, the team will be in no hurry to add another coach.

In fact, it’s possible the Bulls could choose not to replace Griffin and simply give more duties to current staff members Ed Pinckney or Jim Sann.

After spending nine seasons as an NBA player, including 2½ with the Bulls, Griffin spent two years as an assistant to Scott Skiles with the Milwaukee Bucks. The jump to the Bulls gave Griffin more responsibilities, and he usually sat on the bench with fellow assistants Ron Adams and Andy Greer.

Griffin was well respected, not only for his basketball knowledge but also as a mentor to Bulls players young and old. The Wichita, Kan., native spent a few years toiling in the CBA before breaking into the NBA with Boston in 1999.