Rivers apologizes for the distraction and says his remark about Antetokounmpo was more of a compliment
Doc RiversNBC Sports NBA analyst and former Milwaukee Bucks head coach, speaking to Andscape
Rivers says Antetokounmpo makes unbelievable passes but that the force he plays with sometimes gets in the way of his feel, calls the remark more of a compliment, says he feels bad and apologizes for the distraction.
Responding to
Giannis Antetokounmpo was difficult to coach and does not necessarily have a high basketball IQ, relying on one way of playing: attacking downhill and forcing the action.
“He makes unbelievable passes, but then at times, because of his force he plays at, it gets in the way of his feel. It was more of a compliment. I hate this and feel bad about it. I apologize for the distraction. I'm not trying to be one.”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Doc Rivers questions Giannis Antetokounmpo's basketball IQ on a podcast; Antetokounmpo calls the remarks "crazy" and Rivers apologizes
In an episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast released late on November 5, 2026, U.S. Eastern time, former Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Giannis Antetokounmpo was "not easy" to coach because he plays at a "crazy downhill pace," and that he has "great passing ability" but "doesn't necessarily have the super IQ." Jason Kidd, who also coached Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, said on ESPN that he disagreed with Rivers about Antetokounmpo's IQ, and Skip Bayless said Rivers should have kept his view to himself. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he likes and respects Rivers and that this is the team's business now. After a game in Sacramento on the night of November 8, Pacific time, Antetokounmpo said he was speechless, said reporters should ask Rivers why he said it and told athletes never to let bitterness or pettiness get in front of their goals. On November 9, Rivers told Andscape that he had meant to say "feel for the game," that he had texted Antetokounmpo an apology and that calling him not easy to coach was meant as a compliment.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
Rivers tells Andscape's Marc J. Spears on Monday that he meant to say feel for the game rather than super IQ, that he texted Antetokounmpo an apology and that Antetokounmpo responded positively. He says calling Antetokounmpo not easy to coach was meant as a compliment about building a team around a great player. The story also quotes Antetokounmpo's Sunday answer.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Rivers tells Andscape that he meant to say feel for the game instead of super IQ, that he felt bad about the error and that he texted Antetokounmpo an apology, to which Antetokounmpo responded positively. He says he was describing Antetokounmpo as one of the most interesting players.
After the quotation
Rivers says calling Antetokounmpo not easy to coach was meant as a compliment: with a great player, a coach has to fit the team around that player, and that is not always easy. He also says positive things he said about Antetokounmpo on the podcast were overlooked.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Doc Rivers's remarks on The Bill Simmons Podcast that Antetokounmpo was not easy to coach and does not necessarily have the super IQ. Rivers says he feels bad, apologizes for the distraction and, according to Andscape, texted Antetokounmpo an apology. He also restates that the force Antetokounmpo plays with sometimes gets in the way of his feel and calls the remarks a compliment. He regrets the wording and the attention while keeping the substance of his assessment, so the statement combines an apology with a defense of what he meant.
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- People and groups discussed
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
More from this case
Read the full caseCarmelo Anthony questions why Rivers made his Antetokounmpo comments in public
“It's not a shot at him to say there's no finesse to his game ... So, to pinpoint just that part of his game, he's not saying nothing wrong, but it's just why, like, what is the point of saying that?”Read statement
Giannis Antetokounmpo says it is up to Rivers to explain his comments
“He made those comments. He had those quotes. You guys gotta go ask him what he meant ... If you feel like he has to clarify, you know, that’s on him. It’s not on me.”Read statement
Draymond Green says Rivers's IQ remark about Antetokounmpo comes off as personal
“But I will say I don't think Doc was just trying to shoot at Giannis. ... It definitely came off, you know, again, when you get name-calling ... you say he's not super high IQ and things like that, that comes off as personal. It just does.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Rivers apologizes for the distraction and says his remark about Antetokounmpo was more of a compliment". First published: 2026-11-10. Last updated: 2026-11-10. https://disputeindex.com/events/8619-rivers-says-antetokounmpo-makes-unbelievable-passes-but-that