Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Sounds Off On Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Trade Rumors

Doc Rivers was recently a guest on “The Bill Simmons Show” with Bill Simmons and the Milwaukee Bucks head coach sounded off on Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA trade rumors.

Rivers expects Antetokounmpo to remain with the Bucks. 

“It’s so ridiculous,” Rivers said. “And I’ve heard all these reports. You hear all this stuff, but you don’t like it when you hear it because you know it’s not true Bill. But still, your players hear it and everybody else hears it.

“And I remember telling you the story when I was in Boston. I’m on a treadmill working out. That’s when I could run still on a treadmill. And they announced that the Boston Celtics are about to trade Rajon Rondo I think to the Lakers. And I was like, ‘What?’ And it was absurd. Like we had never had any conversations, but Rondo heard it, you know?

“And so that’s the only thing I don’t like about all this now. I don’t know how many more times Giannis has to say he wants to be a Buck and he wants to win a title with the Bucks and it’s so cool to me because it’s not the way it’s done anymore. But with certain guys, I don’t think Steph Curry would ever leave Golden State ever and I’m hoping obviously Giannis feels the same way. That’s the way he’s been so far and it’s been great. It’s been awesome.”

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns.

Since then, Milwaukee has won only one postseason series. 

Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin as the Bucks’ head coach in 2023-24. Milwaukee has lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row. 

Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. 

Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54,126,380 next season. The Bucks signed the forward to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023.

Antetokounmpo is one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season while shooting 60.1% from the field and 61.7% from the free-throw line.

Antetokounmpo made the All-NBA First Team this year. He will be in the Hall of Fame one day.