Former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has claimed that Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to leave the franchise but was unwilling to publicly request a trade.
During an appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast, Rivers discussed the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee and how the situation affected the organization.
According to Rivers, the two-time NBA MVP repeatedly changed his position on remaining with the Bucks, creating difficulties for the team’s management as it attempted to determine its next steps.
“Giannis wanted out, but he was a Buck. And he didn’t want to be the bad guy,” Rivers said.
“He wanted (general manager Jon Horst and owner Wes Edens) and those guys to say, ‘We’re trading you,’ instead of him asking for a trade. To me, that was the game that was being played.”
