Carmelo Anthony questions why Rivers made his Antetokounmpo comments in public
Carmelo AnthonyRetired NBA player and host of the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, on his podcast
Anthony says Rivers's description of Antetokounmpo's forceful game is not a shot at him and not wrong, but questions why Rivers said it publicly instead of raising it with Antetokounmpo in the locker room.
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.
“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?”
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 Anthony's podcast in which a co-host asks why coaches are quick to blame players and Anthony responds to Rivers's comments about Antetokounmpo.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Pro Football Network report, carried by Yahoo Sports, quoting Anthony's podcast remarks on Rivers and Antetokounmpo.
Before the quotation
A co-host asks why some coaches are quicker to blame players than to look at what they could have done differently. Anthony says Antetokounmpo's game is relentless and forceful, and that players are an easy target for blame.
After the quotation
Anthony says it is very difficult to play alongside Antetokounmpo and that a player has to be a certain type to share the court with him.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Anthony says Rivers said nothing wrong about Antetokounmpo's game but asks what the point of saying it publicly was, and says coaches should handle such issues in the locker room, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGiannis 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
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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- Carmelo Anthony questions why Rivers made his Antetokounmpo comments in public
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The Dispute Index. "Carmelo Anthony questions why Rivers made his Antetokounmpo comments in public". First published: 2026-11-14. Last updated: 2026-11-14. https://disputeindex.com/events/8891-anthony-says-rivers-s-description-of-antetokounmpo-s