In the 2023-24 NBA season, it looked like the Milwaukee Bucks were once again one of the league’s best teams. They acquired Damian Lillard in a trade in the summer and started with a 30-13 record under head coach Adrian Griffin.
The Bucks then stunned the NBA world by firing Griffin despite boasting that impressive record. They then hired former champion head coach Doc Rivers, who eventually became quite unpopular in Milwaukee.
Doc Rivers reveals that Giannis Antetokounmpo is a tough player to coach
From 2013 to 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the main man in Milwaukee. He was loyal to the city and the franchise, and the feeling was mutual from the fans.
Over the years, Antetokounmpo thrived as the superstar player, and the hard work eventually paid off in 2021. He led the Bucks to the championship, clinching the title with a 50-point game in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
MORE: Tyler Herro reveals he already knew about the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade in February 2026
That title came under Mike Budenholzer’s leadership, whose tenure lasted until 2023, when the Bucks parted ways with him. Antetokounmpo was then a driving force for the Bucks’ decision to hire Griffin.
When Griffin got fired, Antetokounmpo admitted he was caught by surprise. Hiring Rivers was a decision that Antetokounmpo supported, but it seems that it became rocky as the season went on.
“He’s not easy. He plays at this crazy downhill pace. He’s really a difficult guy. He has this great passing ability, but he doesn’t have a super-high IQ at the same time. He really has only one way of playing. Every play, he wants to force it. I wish he’d learned how to execute better,” Rivers said on The Bill Simmons Podcast about coaching Antetokounmpo.
Rivers also admitted that Antetokounmpo has to improve when it comes to execution. Given the struggles with the Miami Heat as of late, Rivers might have a great point. Of course, it is still pretty early in Antetokounmpo’s Heat tenure, but some of the problems are still popping up.
