Doc Rivers Says Giannis Trade Rumors, Injuries Have Made It 'Very Difficult' to Keep Bucks Together

Heading into potentially his final weekend as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers is opening up about the difficulty this season has caused him due to the ongoing situation with Giannis Antetokounmpo and injuries to key players.

Appearing on FanDuel TV's Run It Back show, Rivers said it has been "very difficult" trying to keep this Bucks team together amid everything that has been going on with the organization.

Things between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have seemed tense for some time, due in part to their difference of opinion about his health and ability to play in games.

Antetokounmpo told reporters last week that he wants "to f--king play" and supports the NBA's investigation into the Bucks' handling of the situation under the player participation policy:

"I've never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that's like — I'm saying it publicly — I want to f–-ing play. You know what I'm saying? I don't think I've seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don't know. There should be. Until we figure something out."

Bucks general manager Jon Horst told Eric Nehm of The Athletic this week that Antetokounmpo has been held out because he's "not cleared to play yet in a game."

Despite the public back-and-forth between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, Rivers expressed hope that the two sides can mend fences.

Rivers has hinted at not coaching after this season. While not directly answering a question about how much longer he wants to keep coaching, the 64-year-old told reporters prior to Tuesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets that he would like to spend time with his grandkids:

"I won't answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see. I'll put it that way. I'll let you figure it out from there. I have seven grandkids now and they're all eight years and under, and it kills me every time I miss grandparents day with each one of them in school. It's probably time to go see them more, so I'll let you figure out the rest."

Rivers has one year remaining on the contract he originally signed in January 2024 upon being named Milwaukee's head coach. He was recently named as an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026.

The Bucks (31-49) are going to miss the playoffs this season for the first time since 2015-16. They haven't won a playoff series since the 2021-22 season and haven't advanced past the second round since winning the 2021 NBA Finals.

Rivers has a 96-102 record in three seasons with the Bucks. There are two games remaining in their season, starting on Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets.