The Milwaukee Bucks have dismissed Doc Rivers as their coach amid the uncertainty of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future. NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Sunday that the Bucks ended Rivers’ playcalling duties about a week after Antetokounmpo slammed the team for allegedly forcing him to sit out games.
Fans reacted to Charania’s report after the Bucks closed their chaotic season with a 126-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. One fan wrote:
“Is this their effort to try and keep Giannis?”
Another fan added:
“His days were numbered after Giannis’ comments. lmao.”
One more fan continued:
“The most overrated coach in NBA history.”
Another fan commented:
“Never seen a coach ride one championship so far.”
One fan tweeted:
“They should hire Adrian Griffin.”
Early this month, Antetokounmpo called out the Bucks for how they allegedly treated him. He said that he talked to Doc Rivers and GM Jon Horst about his availability to play after dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo, who urged an investigation into the Bucks, added that he was forcibly left out of the lineup despite being healthy.
With the Bucks’ relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo fractured, they are heading into an offseason of changes.
The first domino to fall is Rivers, who will leave with a 97-103 record in less than three seasons with the Bucks. Milwaukee lost in the first round of the past two postseasons with the recently inducted Hall of Fame coach at the helm.
Charania reported early this month that Rivers urged his team to Google his resume late in the season for a final playoff push. The strategy did not seem to make any impact as the Bucks were eliminated from even the play-in tournament. Milwaukee is out of the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.
Shams Charania added that the Bucks and Rivers are “discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization.”
Doc Rivers and Giannis Antetokounmpo Never Won Playoff Series
The Milwaukee Bucks secured the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2024 season. However, the Bucks’ ranking did not matter to the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers, who eliminated the Bucks in six games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo helplessly watched from the sidelines due to a calf injury. Without him, Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard tried to carry the team. Lillard himself was limited to four games due to an Achilles injury.
The following season, No. 4 Indiana faced No. 5 Milwaukee again in a highly anticipated rematch. This time, Antetokounmpo was healthy. The two-time MVP dominated, but the Bucks lost 4-1. Another Lillard injury was another key reason the Bucks were eliminated in the first round by the same opponent.
Doc Rivers will leave the Bucks without winning a playoff series with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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