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New Report Shows Crucial Role Doc Rivers Plays in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Trade Future

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 26, 2025 1:45 PM ET

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has not formally requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks yet.

It's still unknown if Antetokounmpo, one of the top players in the NBA, will remain with the Bucks or ask for a trade this summer.

Milwaukee has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. To make matters worse, Bucks All-Star point guard Damian Lillard could miss all of next season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.

Antetokounmpo has played for Larry Drew, Jason Kidd, Joe Prunty, Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers since getting drafted by the Bucks in 2013. Budenholzer coached the Bucks to the 2021 title, but he was fired after the 2022-23 season.

Rivers is 65-53 in the regular season and 3-8 in the playoffs with the Bucks, who have lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the postseason two years in a row. According to Stein, Antetokounmpo and Rivers have a strong working relationship.

The Bucks are hoping that the presence of Rivers will help them keep Antetokounmpo.

"The Bucks are also hoping that the presence of Rivers as coach can provide some sort of boost," Stein wrote. "Antetokounmpo and Rivers are believed to have a strong working relationship, which Rivers — annoyed as he clearly was to be greeted by paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant a few days ago — apparently tried to convey by telling TMZ: 'I talk to him all the time.'"

Antetokounmpo put up 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Bucks this season. He made the All-NBA First Team.

A two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He's 30 years old.

It will be fascinating to see if The Greek Freak stays with the Bucks or requests a trade.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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