Free extension for sports fans
Advertisement
Advertisement

‘He’s not easy’: Doc Rivers talks coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo

Back in front of the microphone after a nearly three-year stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers had the chance to talk about his experience coaching the Greek superstar in the final years of his tenure with the team, and…

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 3:28 PM
‘He’s not easy’: Doc Rivers talks coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo
Key Things to Know
  • Doc Rivers stated that Giannis Antetokounmpo was not easy to coach due to his downhill play and execution issues.
  • Rivers argued that Antetokounmpo relies on force and lacks a high basketball IQ despite strong passing skills.
  • The remarks follow a disappointing 32-50 Bucks season that led Antetokounmpo to request a trade.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reflected on the challenges of coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo during an appearance on the Bill Simmons Podcast. Rivers explained that Antetokounmpo is difficult to coach due to his relentless downhill pace and argued that while the star has great passing ability, he lacks high-level basketball IQ and relies too much on force rather than structured execution.

Rivers coached Antetokounmpo during a turbulent stint in Milwaukee that ended after a 32-50 season, which prompted Antetokounmpo to request a trade after 13 years with the franchise. Now with the Miami Heat, Antetokounmpo was urged by Rivers to learn better offensive execution under head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Advertisement

Never Miss a Sports Update

Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.

No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.