Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was the talk of the NBA during the league’s All-Star Break. He was making headlines on a nearly daily basis for some of the comments he was making or from people talking about him.
Rivers, who took over as head coach of the Bucks a few weeks ago, spoke about how difficult it was to take over a team midseason. He was unsure why the move was made and claims to have urged Milwaukee to wait to make a move.
The results heading into the All-Star break were disastrous, as the Bucks went 3-7. However, they are 2-0 since returning from the break and looks like they are starting to figure things out with victories over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.
Former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been excellent in those two games. He has scored 63 points with 25 rebounds, 14 assists, one steal and one block in 77 minutes of play. Even more important than his stats is the fact the team has won both games, beginning their ascension back up the Eastern Conference Standings.
Antetokounmpo is just the latest in a long line of incredible players Rivers has gotten to coach in his career. Another one of those remarkable players was Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, whom Rivers compared Antetokounmpo to last week.
“[Giannis] is the first player I’ve had since Garnett that reminds me of Garnett,” Rivers said while talking to Frank Isola and Ryan McDonough on SiriusXM NBA Radio
That is some high praise for Antetokounmpo, as Garnett is one of the best players to ever step foot in the NBA. The Greek Freak is looking to cement himself in that standing once it is all said and done and is certainly well on his way to accomplishing it.
An eight-time All-Star, seven and likely eight-time All-NBA Team member and two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo has accomplished things most players only dream of. The only thing Antetokounmpo is worried about now is rings, taking that team-first approach Garnett embodied once he linked up with Rivers later in his career.
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