Doc Rivers' Controversial Diss on Giannis Addressed by Heat HC Erik Spoelstra

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn't worried about critical comments from former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers when it came to figuring out the best way to maximize Giannis Antetokounmpo.

"Look, I like Doc, and I respect him," Spoelstra said Saturday, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. "This is our business now."

Rivers appeared on Thursday's episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast and said coaching Antetokounmpo was "difficult" and "not easy" at times (h/t Nehm). He also said it was "hard to get right" when attempting to balance the overall team success and Antetokounmpo's style of play.

Miami brought in the future Hall of Famer this offseason in one of the NBA's marquee moves of the past year, but it has been a rocky start. It is just 3-6 overall, although it has shown signs of improvement following an 0-4 start.

Heat-Warriors Highlights

01:32

Spoelstra said the team is "making some progress" as it attempts to "develop a defense that's meeting our potential."

He also said offensively "we went into the season thinking that that would be a process, playing with somebody that commands so much attention. That's a different style than some of the guys that have come here, that have played before. We'll be able to figure that all out. We've already made a lot of strides."

For his part, Rivers coached Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee during the previous 2.5 seasons and went 97-103. Injuries played a major role in the failure to live up to expectations, as Antetokounmpo was sidelined for a first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers in 2024 before Damian Lillard was out for some of the first-round loss to the same team the next year.

Coaching Antetokounmpo is surely an adjustment, as he is someone who plays with the ball in his hands, aggressively attacks the rim and isn't a great three-point shooter. 

But he is also an all-time great who led the Bucks to the 2021 title as the NBA Finals MVP. 

Spoelstra is in the process of figuring things out with his team's new star and didn't want to directly address Rivers' comments.