Erik Spoelstra says he respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now
Erik SpoelstraMiami Heat head coach, speaking to The Athletic after a team practice
Spoelstra says he likes and respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now, without addressing Rivers's assessment of Antetokounmpo.
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.
“This is our business now.”
Reporting
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
Eurohoops reports Spoelstra's brief answer to The Athletic after a Saturday practice and his remarks on the Heat's defense after a 3-6 start.
Reporting
About this source
Bleacher Report, citing Eric Nehm of The Athletic, reports that Spoelstra said on Saturday that he likes and respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now, and that he did not want to address Rivers's comments directly.
Before the quotation
After a Saturday practice, The Athletic asks Spoelstra about Rivers's comments that coaching Antetokounmpo was difficult. Spoelstra first says he likes Rivers and respects him.
After the quotation
Bleacher Report reports that Spoelstra did not want to address Rivers's comments directly. Eurohoops reports that he spoke about the Heat's defense, saying Miami's games were being won or lost on defense first.
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. Asked about those comments, Spoelstra says he likes and respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now. He neither agrees nor disagrees with the assessment and closes the subject, so the answer is a refusal to engage rather than a defense or a criticism.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Doc Rivers
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
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Erik Spoelstra says he respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/8621-spoelstra-says-he-likes-and-respects-rivers-and
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Erik Spoelstra says he respects Rivers and that this is the Heat's business now". First published: 2026-11-10. Last updated: 2026-11-10. https://disputeindex.com/events/8621-spoelstra-says-he-likes-and-respects-rivers-and