Draymond Green says Rivers's IQ remark about Antetokounmpo comes off as personal
Draymond GreenGolden State Warriors forward and host of The Draymond Green Show, on his podcast
Green says he does not think Rivers was trying to attack Antetokounmpo, but that name-calling and saying he does not have a super high IQ comes off as personal.
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.
“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.”
Original video
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
Original video
About this source
Episode of Green's podcast in which he discusses Rivers's comments about Antetokounmpo and Kings coach Doug Christie's remarks after the Heat's win in Sacramento.
Reporting
About this source
EssentiallySports report, carried by Yahoo Sports, quoting Green's podcast remarks on Rivers and Christie at length.
Before the quotation
Green compares the remark to Mark Jackson's comment that Stephen Curry ruined the game, and says he would agree with Rivers if reports that Rivers regretted the IQ line are true. He says the episode recalls J.J. Redick's complaint that Rivers blames his players.
After the quotation
Green then turns to Kings coach Doug Christie, who questioned Antetokounmpo's shot selection after the Heat's win in Sacramento, and says that if coaches start talking crazy about players, players should start talking crazy about coaches too.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Green says Rivers was not trying to attack Antetokounmpo but that questioning his IQ comes off as personal, and he warns that players could start talking about coaches the same way, so we labeled it Condemned.
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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
Rivers apologizes for the distraction and says his remark about Antetokounmpo was more of a compliment
“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.”Read statement
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- Draymond Green says Rivers's IQ remark about Antetokounmpo comes off as personal
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The Dispute Index. "Draymond Green says Rivers's IQ remark about Antetokounmpo comes off as personal". First published: 2026-11-14. Last updated: 2026-11-14. https://disputeindex.com/events/8890-green-says-he-does-not-think-rivers-was