Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers did not mince words about his all-bench units on Monday. “A lot,” he said when asked what they could improve.
“That’s an area of concern for us, for sure. We don’t rebound well with that group. We don’t guard the ball well with that group. We don’t handle pick-and-rolls well with that group. And we foul a lot with that group. Other than that, they’ve been fantastic,” Rivers said via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Oct 30, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Despite the concerns, Rivers has relied heavily on all-bench units through the first eight games. According to PBP Stats, the Bucks have played 45 minutes with no starters against at least one starter from the other team, more than any other NBA team. By comparison, the Washington Wizards are next at 30 minutes. Last season, Milwaukee used this approach far less, finishing 13th in all-bench minutes at 84. At this pace, the Bucks are on track for over 460 minutes this season.
Doc Rivers and the Bucks bench this season
Apr 5, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers congratulates his team late in overtime against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The strategy has not yielded the same results as Rivers’ previous teams. The Bucks’ all-bench units currently have a defensive rating of 124.7. Offensive production has fallen in the last two games, with a rating of 95.7, meaning opponents outscore them by 29 points per 100 possessions.
Rivers’ focus on maximizing starter and bench rotations also shows in how he pairs Giannis Antetokounmpo with Myles Turner. Giannis has played 218 minutes, sharing 104 of those with Turner and others. Turner has been on the court for 177 of Giannis’ minutes, or 81.2 percent, the highest teammate share in Giannis’ career.
Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) exits the game in the fourth quarter as head coach Doc Rivers shakes his hand during game four against the Indiana Pacers of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Before this season, Khris Middleton held the record for sharing the most on-court minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo. During the 2015–16 campaign, Middleton was alongside Antetokounmpo for 77.4 percent of his 2,823 total minutes.
Through eight games, the Bucks’ starters are also struggling, being outscored by 7.6 points per 100 possessions, with an offensive rating of 116.7 and defensive rating of 124.3. Rivers faces decisions on whether to continue leaning on all-bench units, adjust rotations, or give his squads more time to gel.