Doc Rivers on Giannis: Basketball IQ and Shooting Critique

Doc Rivers described his time with the Milwaukee Bucks and his work with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Bill Simmons' podcast. Rivers said Giannis has a powerful, relentless style that constantly attacks the basket. In his view, his passing is very strong, but his basketball IQ is not at the same level.

Rivers noted that Giannis is one of the players who does not need instructions. He said this approach allowed the player to make a difference on his own, but it did not always help the team. According to Rivers, Giannis needs to put more emphasis on execution in practice and on his shooting.

The report also recalled the results the Bucks had under Rivers. Milwaukee went 97-103 during Rivers' tenure and missed the playoffs last season for the first time in 10 years. Giannis' extended absence due to injury during most of the season was cited as one of the reasons for that result. The Bucks lost to the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025. With Giannis, the Bucks won the 2021 championship, and Giannis was named MVP twice. The article also questioned whether Rivers was defending his own tenure with these comments.

Rivers said Giannis is currently working with Erik Spoelstra and called Spoelstra one of the best in the business at this.