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Former NBA coach Doc Rivers has criticized his former player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, calling him “really hard to coach” and questioning his basketball intelligence, SPOX reported.
“He is not an easy player. That’s because he constantly drives to the basket at incredible speed with full force. He is really hard to coach. I once told someone: ‘He has an outstanding passing ability, but at the same time, he doesn’t necessarily have a particularly high basketball IQ,'” Rivers said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Rivers continued his critique, describing Antetokounmpo’s playing style as a “strange combination.” “He really only knows one direction: to the basket with tempo and tremendous force. On every possession, he wants to overpower his opponent. Sometimes I wish he would find other solutions and learn how to better execute plays,” the 65-year-old explained.
Rivers Criticizes AAU Player Mentality
Antetokounmpo belongs to “a type of player common in the USA: so-called AAU players. They never really had to learn how to consistently execute plays because they could solve their tasks on their own,” Rivers said. “However, that doesn’t necessarily help a team.”
“I told Giannis that directly: What he still needs to learn, in my opinion, is the value of consistent play execution. He has to understand how important it is to focus on training and shooting drills to cleanly run plays. Now he has a coach who is one of the best at that,” Rivers added.
The former Celtics champion also took issue with the mindset of such players. “Many don’t understand. They think: ‘I don’t need that, I can do it this way.’ Yes, maybe you can. But for a team to function as a unit, you have to learn to execute plays consistently and with discipline.”
Bucks Miss Playoffs with Rivers as Coach
Rivers coached Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2024 to 2026. In April of last season, Rivers stepped down. With a record of 32 wins and 50 losses, the Bucks missed the playoffs significantly.
Antetokounmpo himself missed large portions of the season due to injury, appearing in only 36 regular-season games. After 13 years in Milwaukee, where he won an NBA championship in 2021, the Greek player was traded in the summer and joined the Miami Heat.
Heat Struggle Despite Antetokounmpo's Stats
However, the initial euphoria in Miami has faded. Instead of competing for top spots in the Eastern Conference, the Heat have won only three of their nine games. Most recently, they suffered another defeat against the Golden State Warriors, losing 100-120.
Individually, Antetokounmpo is performing at his usual level, averaging 27.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and one block per game. The bigger issues lie with Miami’s defense. With a defensive rating of 117.5 points, the Heat rank 26th in the league.
Next Game Against Sacramento Kings
On Monday night, the Heat will have their next opportunity to get back on track against the struggling Sacramento Kings (1-7). The game presents a chance for Miami to find a rhythm and address their defensive shortcomings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Doc Rivers?
- Doc Rivers is a 65-year-old former NBA coach who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008. He coached Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2024 to 2026.
- What did Doc Rivers say about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s basketball IQ?
- Rivers stated that Antetokounmpo “doesn’t necessarily have a particularly high basketball IQ,” despite having “an outstanding passing ability.”
- How are the Miami Heat performing this season?
- The Heat have won only three of their nine games and rank 26th in the league in defensive rating, allowing 117.5 points per game.
- What is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s current season average?
- Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and one block per game for the Miami Heat.
- Who is the Miami Heat’s current head coach?
- Doc Rivers praised the current Miami Heat coach as “one of the best” at teaching consistent play execution.
- Who do the Miami Heat play next?
- The Heat will face the Sacramento Kings (1-7) on Monday night in their next game.
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