Doc Rivers explains lead-up to Giannis Antetokounmpo’ Bucks exit: ‘Didn’t want to be the bad guy’

Doc Rivers claimed on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" that Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to leave the Milwaukee Bucks without formally requesting a trade. Rivers stated that Antetokounmpo wanted general manager Jon Horst and owner Wes Edens to initiate the move instead. Antetokounmpo was ultimately traded to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster offseason deal that included Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and multiple first-round picks heading to Milwaukee.

Rivers also commented that Antetokounmpo was not easy to coach and questioned his basketball IQ, remarks that former Bucks coach Jason Kidd publicly disagreed with on ESPN. Meanwhile, head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat have struggled to an early 3-6 start while integrating Antetokounmpo alongside Bam Adebayo.