Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers frustrated with Giannis Antetokounmpo feud

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers expressed dismay over the public nature of star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustration with the team over not being able to play following a hyperextension of his left knee on March 15. Antetokounmpo had been ruled out since the Bucks’ game against Cleveland on March 17 through their loss to Boston on April 3. Before the game, Antetokounmpo spoke publicly for the first time about being held out despite his belief that he is healthy.

He repeated that he is available and doesn’t understand why he can’t play, and noted that he had gone through live workouts in the hopes of being cleared. After the game, Rivers was asked what he had been told about Antetokounmpo’s progress to a return. “ I've been told the same thing,” Rivers said of the workouts.

He then took issue with the fact he has had to answer questions about Antetokounmpo’s availability, or lack thereof. “The tough part of all this is I'm in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,” Rivers continued. “Coaches don't decide any of this, but the problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front and we have to sit here and answer this stuff.

And I think there are two sides to this. I will tell you that, but I don't want to get too involved in it. I talk to Giannis all the time about what he should be working on.