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Doc Rivers explains moment when Giannis Antetokounmpo thought he ‘lost his mind,’ relates to Bucks’ new strategy

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Bergas Agung | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 1:30 PM ET

Trade rumors continue swirling around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee.

However, Doc Rivers has already crafted his master plan for next season. It seems like he disregards the rumors that linked Giannis to Houston or New York.

The Bucks head coach isn’t waiting for speculation to end. His blueprint centers on a bold experiment that caught everyone off guard last season.

Doc Rivers’ shocking point guard gamble that made everyone think he lost his mind

Following Damian Lillard’s injury last season, Rivers made a radical decision. He handed the point guard duties to Giannis, transforming the Greek Freak into Milwaukee’s primary ball handler.

The move raised eyebrows throughout the organization. Rivers admits his coaching staff questioned his sanity when he proposed the idea.

“The second half of the year, when I put the ball in Giannis‘ hands, we did it by default. I‘d love to say, I‘m this genius and I thought, ‘Hey let‘s play Giannis at the point guard spot.‘,“ Rivers said.

“When I brought it up with our coaches, they thought I had lost my mind.

“When I brought it up with Giannis, he thought I had lost my mind,” Rivers revealed.

The strategy wasn’t planned geniusly, Rivers confessed. Lillard’s injury forced his hand, but the results spoke volumes as the Bucks were able to enter the postseason as the fifth seed on the Eastern Conference.

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The Giannis-centered strategy that breaks ‘NBA defense rules‘ and creates unstoppable offense

Rivers discovered something crucial about modern NBA defense. Teams aggressively pressure traditional point guards, but nobody dares challenge Giannis bringing the ball up court.

“Because he already has the ball in his hands but like having him bring it up every time, it eliminated how the whole league right now is pressuring the ball.

“Nobody’s pressuring Giannis. So it allowed us, even against Indiana, to bring up the ball pressure free,” Rivers explained.

The strategy creates a domino effect. Giannis draws defensive attention, freeing up Milwaukee’s shooters for clean looks.

With marksmen like Gary Trent Jr. and A.J. Green shooting over 40% from three, the spacing becomes lethal.

How Myles Turner and elite shooters will unleash Giannis’s ultimate weapon

Rivers plans to expand this system next season. The Bucks lack a traditional point guard after waiving Damian Lillard, making Giannis the natural floor general.

Adding Myles Turner provides the perfect complement. The stretch-five can shoot threes while Giannis operates from the perimeter, creating unprecedented spacing.

“I want to pick up from that and build on,” Rivers stated confidently. “The most dangerous guy on our team had the ball already, and when you put shooting around that, that’s where Gary Trent and A.J. Green are going to have breakout years.”

Milwaukee’s championship window depends on maximizing Giannis’s unique skillset. Rivers believes he’s found the key that can maximize the Bucks‘ roster potential.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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