Doc Rivers Rips 'Ridiculous' Giannis Trade Rumors, Hopes Star Stays With Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is pushing back against the trade speculation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Appearing on The Bill Simmons Show (starts at 52:15 mark), Rivers called the rumors about Antetokounmpo "ridiculous" and expressed hope that the two-time MVP will spend his entire career in Milwaukee.

"It’s so ridiculous. And I’ve heard all these reports, you hear all this stuff but you don’t like it when you hear it because you know it’s not true, Bill. But still, your players hear it and everybody else hears it. And I remember telling you the story when I was in Boston: I’m on a treadmill working out. That’s when I could run still on a treadmill. And they announced that the Boston Celtics are about to trade Rajon Rondo I think to the Lakers. And I was like, ‘What?!’ And it was absurd. Like we had never had any conversations, but Rondo heard it, you know? And so that’s the only thing I don’t like about all this now. I don’t know how many more times Giannis has to say he wants to be a Buck and he wants to win a title with the Bucks and it’s so cool to me because it’s not the way it’s done anymore. But with certain guys, I don’t think Steph Curry would ever leave Golden State ever and I’m hoping obviously Giannis feels the same way. That’s the way he’s been so far and it’s been great. It’s been awesome."

Despite Rivers' annoyance at the talk around Antetokounmpo, there does seem to be a growing sense that he might be willing to at least start next season with the Bucks.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said last week opposing teams have "come to terms" with the idea that Antetokounmpo isn't going to ask for a trade, nor are the Bucks looking to move him right now.

The key phrase that Windhorst emphasized was right now, as Antetokounmpo could always change his mind if he doesn't like the direction the organization ends up going or thinks another situation will present him with a better chance to win.

Antetokounmpo was going to be the crown jewel of this offseason in a trade if he did decide to leave Milwaukee. He's only 30 years old, coming off arguably the best season of his career and has finished in the top seven in MVP voting in seven consecutive years.

Milwaukee's short-term outlook doesn't seem promising, especially with Damian Lillard likely to miss at least most of the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles that required surgery on May 2.

Windhorst and Tim Bontemps noted on June 13 that Rivers and Bucks general manager Jon Horst have been pitching Antetokounmpo on a plan to keep their core in place for next season and competing for a top-six spot in the East, with the hope Lillard can return at some point before the end of the regular season.

Antetokounmpo has spoken in the past about not being the type of player who would request a trade, but things can always change if the circumstances around him get to the point it doesn't make sense for him to run it back.

Things don't appear to be at that stage for the Bucks yet. Given how wide open the East could be next season, a team led by Antetokounmpo might have a chance to make some real noise in the playoffs, even if they aren't up to the level of a title contender.