Doc Rivers: Giannis Wanted Out But Avoided Being the Villain

Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to leave Milwaukee, but he did not want the team to know it directly from him. Doc Rivers, who coached the Bucks for three seasons, said the star forward was determined not to be seen as the person forcing the move.

"Giannis wanted out, but he was a Buck. And he didn't want to be the bad guy," Rivers said on The Bill Simmons Podcast in an episode released on Thursday. Rivers explained that Antetokounmpo preferred general manager Jon Horst and owner Wes Edens to make the public announcement. The star forward did not want his own name attached to the initial request.

This dynamic created a confusing picture for fans during the 2025-26 season. Antetokounmpo, who led the franchise to the 2021 NBA championship, repeatedly told reporters he remained committed to Milwaukee. He stated he would never demand a trade. Behind the scenes, however, the message was different. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Antetokounmpo and his agent Alex Saratsis informed the team in May 2025 that a split was best for both sides.

The situation concluded over the summer. Milwaukee traded Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat. In return, the Bucks received Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick.

Antetokounmpo has had an uneven start in Miami. The Heat are 3-6 through their 120-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Despite the team record, Antetokounmpo leads Miami in scoring with 27.3 points per game and rebounding with 12.7 per game.

Rivers also discussed the challenges of coaching the two-time MVP. He said Antetokounmpo needed to give more to the team as a whole. "Giannis needed to just give himself to the team, not to anyone else," Rivers said. He described Antetokounmpo's downhill playing style as difficult to manage because the forward often forced shots.

Rivers noted that Antetokounmpo now plays for Erik Spoelstra, whom he called excellent at teaching execution. Rivers finished with a 97-103 record in Milwaukee. The Bucks missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015-16. Rivers announced he would not return after the regular season finale. He joined NBC as an NBA analyst in September and said he has no plans to coach again.