Doc Rivers Apologizes To Giannis Antetokounmpo Over Podcast Comments

Misunderstood Comments Lead To Apology

Doc Rivers has reached out to apologize to Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo following public comments he made about the player. Rivers clarified that his recent remarks about Antetokounmpo were meant to be complimentary rather than critical.

The former Milwaukee Bucks head coach spent parts of three seasons coaching Antetokounmpo before leaving the team at the end of last season. Rivers sent a text message to express regret over his choice of words, and he confirmed that Antetokounmpo responded positively. Rivers stated that he felt bad about the mistake and apologized for the distraction caused by his statements.

What Rivers Said On The Podcast

During a podcast interview published last Thursday, Rivers stated that Antetokounmpo does not necessarily have a super basketball IQ. He described the star as playing primarily downhill with pure force. Rivers also remarked during the interview that coaching the star forward was not easy.

Speaking on Monday, Rivers explained that he used the wrong phrasing during the show. He intended to say feel for the game rather than super IQ. Rivers explained that the high level of force Antetokounmpo plays with can sometimes get in the way of his feel on the court.

Rivers added that his comment about Antetokounmpo being hard to coach was meant as a compliment to his greatness. He explained that building a squad around an elite talent is a challenging task for any manager. Rivers noted that he had also made many positive comments about coaching Antetokounmpo that were overlooked by listeners.

Antetokounmpo Responds After Heat Victory

Antetokounmpo shared his reaction on Sunday following Miami's 114-108 victory over the Sacramento Kings. The 31 year old forward pointed out that Rivers is no longer his head coach. He stated that Erik Spoelstra is his current coach, though he acknowledged working with Rivers in the past. He added that the comments left him speechless.

The forward is currently in his first season playing for Miami. He is averaging 27.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. The Heat have recovered from a slow start to the campaign and currently hold a 4-6 record following their recent win in Sacramento.