Every day from here on out, Doc Rivers will have to answer questions about the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga.
Unless the Milwaukee Bucks actually trade away the superstar big man, the storyline will continue to hover around the team until it's resolved. For Doc Rivers, he will have to keep talking about it, and even defending himself, after he recently caught blame for the fallout.
Jae Crowder, a former Bucks player, was on the team before Rivers entered the picture. The Bucks were in the midst of a run with the first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, and they were thriving. Nobody would've thought that Griffin's job was on the line, but it was. And after winning nearly 70 percent of his games in charge, Griffin was let go and replaced by Rivers.
The Bucks finished the regular season by losing more than winning under Rivers, but they still managed to make the playoffs in 2024. The Bucks didn't go far, losing in the first round.
Last year, Rivers' first full 82 in Milwaukee finished with a 48-34 record. The Bucks made the playoffs and once again lost in the first round. Antetokounmpo's patience has been wearing thin, and it's apparent he's open to a new home at this stage in his career.
As Crowder watches the situation in Milwaukee play out from afar, he's under the impression that Rivers is the problem.
"We were 30-13 (by the way). To bring in Doc," Crowder posted on X earlier this week. "This is what started the avalanche."
On Thursday, Rivers responded.
"That's just a nice thing to say," Rivers told reporters when asked about the post. "It hurts us all when you see somebody (do that), but usually there's a reason behind it. Usually, it's called playing time, and you know that for sure. I always use the David Chappelle line, ‘When the titans are failing, the cowards will come out and crow.' And I've always thought that's got a lot of truth to it."
Before Rivers entered the picture in Milwaukee, Crowder appeared in 14 games, averaging 23.2 minutes per game. With Rivers, Crowder made 36 appearances, averaging around the same playing time. It's apparent the player and the coach simply weren't on the same page when they worked together.
Rivers might be at fault for some factors in Milwaukee, but the Giannis saga stems from all over. Whether it's the coaching staff, front office, or simply just factors out of their control, the Bucks know that they are on borrowed time with their franchise star. Soon enough, major changes will need to take place.
Newsweek