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Giannis Antetokounmpo praises Doc Rivers for taking on the high-pressure job of being the Milwaukee Bucks head coach
Being the head coach of an NBA team with legitimate title aspirations bears heavy pressure. This is true for the Milwaukee Bucks, a team primed for a run at the NBA championship with superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard at the peak of their powers.
So, when Doc Rivers agreed to take on the daunting role of being the Bucks' new head coach instead of the deposed Adrian Griffin, Giannis couldn't help but marvel at the veteran coach's willingness to step up.
Tough-minded coach
Rivers has been through plenty of battles in a 24-year coaching career. He has steered prominent teams such as the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Clippers, and most recently, the Philadelphia 76ers; he has invaluable expertise in helming high-pressure scenarios and guiding star-studded lineups. His experience coaching All-Star players like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, and Joel Embiid will undoubtedly be useful as he navigates the Bucks' roster led by Giannis and Lillard.
"It speaks volumes," Giannis said of Rivers' resolve.
"You could tell what he's built of. He's tough. It's hard to take this job. You lose, it feels like the whole world is ending. You win by five, why didn't you win by 20? You have Giannis, you have Dame, you have Khris (Middleton). It's hard. Nothing is good enough. Only a championship is good enough. We've got to that point, which is crazy."
Just how tough is the Bucks' gig? At the time of Griffin's firing, the Bucks held a 30-13 record, which was good for second place in the Eastern Conference. Despite Milwaukee's gaudy win-loss record, the franchise's decision-makers still felt a change was necessary.
Lean on Rivers' experience
Unlike Griffin, who had no head coaching experience before taking over in Milwaukee, Rivers is a seasoned veteran with over two decades of experience on the sidelines. It is this experience that Giannis believes he and the team can lean on when things aren't going their way.
"We know that he's played in tough games," Antetokounmpo shared.
"We know that he's played in two NBA Finals. Like, he's been there before. We've been there one time. We want to go there again. And, sometimes, having people with experience next to you, it helps you," Giannis continued.
"When it's tough, when you face challenges, when things don't go your way, having somebody that can be like, 'Hey, I've been here before. This is what we're going to do. This is how we're going to attack it. This is how we gotta stay together. Don't worry about the expectation. We've gotta do this as a team.' Somebody that can give you that guide, that lead, it's always great to have him in your locker room. So, I'm excited that he understands that we're trying to win a championship. I think everybody in this locker room understands that."
