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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 10: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks checks on Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on March 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers revealed that he believes the year-long drama of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors caused the team to fall apart. Milwaukee had high hopes of making the playoffs and trying to build a team for Antetokounmpo to believe in moving forward.

Rivers revealed that the team struggled to get through all the rumors involving Antetokounmpo:

“It wore on everyone. And I don’t even know how it could have been handled different or not. I have a lot of compassion for Giannis. I think everybody knows that, because I do think he has the right to change his mind. He has the right to want to stay.

And then if he wants to leave, he has the right to do that, too. He’s going to be a free agent in a year. I just didn’t like all the talk all year, because no one knew what they were talking about because Giannis didn’t know. He felt one way and then he would change the next week. But I kept telling him, ‘But that is OK.’ It’s a huge decision for him.”

Giannis’ future was the biggest topic of the regular and it dominated the trade deadline discussion. The Bucks and Antetokounmpo both decided to stick together through the season, but the damage was already done with too much of a gap to make up for a play-in seed.

Doc Rivers Has Reputation For Blaming Others

The past few years have seen Rivers developing a reputation for coaching disappointing teams and blaming others for failure. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s Los Angeles Clippers team never made the Western Conference Finals, despite being considered the favorites in 2014.

The Philadelphia 76ers next signed Rivers to coach their superstar duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Rivers blamed Simmons for an embarrassing playoff defeat that ultimately led to a trade for James Harden.

More blame was passed from Rivers to his players underperforming in big spots before he ultimately joined the Bucks to coach Giannis. All three of Doc’s recent stints in the NBA featured him failing to get the best out of his team and having an answer that blamed others for each failed ending.

What Does Doc Rivers’ Future Hold?

Rivers leaving Milwaukee means he will have to choose between continuing his coaching career or finally letting this chapter of his career end. Past success in broadcasting could see Rivers landing a great job with more sports networks covering the NBA needing more commentators.

Stressful scenarios coaching teams with pressure to win could make Rivers give up coaching for a more relaxed job or just sit at home enjoying his life. Few NBA teams currently have coaching gigs, but most would opt to pick a fresher name.

Rivers is likely going to take a break from coaching after changing jobs three times over the past decade. Milwaukee felt like his last chance at another NBA Championship when he joined with Giannis and Damian Lillard on the roster. The tenure failing is expected to be Doc’s final chapter coaching in the NBA.