Over the past few days, the Milwaukee Bucks have found themselves not just in a slump on the court, but in the middle of a public back-and-forth between former and current members of the organization. It started with Jae Crowder-a veteran forward who was once seen as a key piece for Milwaukee-voicing his frustration over how the team has been managed, particularly since the firing of Adrian Griffin and the hiring of Doc Rivers. Crowder didn’t mince words, suggesting that the coaching change marked the beginning of the end for the Bucks.
Doc Rivers, never one to shy away from a response, fired back with a pointed comment: “Usually there’s a reason behind it, usually it’s called playing time.” The implication was clear-Crowder’s critique came from a place of personal dissatisfaction about his role.
But here’s where things get complicated. While Crowder may not have been logging starter minutes, he wasn’t exactly glued to the bench either.
After Rivers took over, Crowder still averaged 23.1 minutes per game during the 2023-24 season-eighth-most on the team. That’s a solid role, even if it wasn’t the same level of involvement he had during his more impactful run in Phoenix.
So, was Crowder just being bitter? Maybe.
But the results under Rivers speak volumes. The Bucks were 30-13 under Griffin before he was let go.
Under Rivers, they stumbled to a 17-19 finish the rest of that season. The following year, they improved to 48-34, but that only got them a fifth seed and a quick first-round exit.
Now, they’re sitting 10 games under .500-a place this franchise hasn’t been in a decade. That’s not just a dip; that’s a collapse.
This isn’t the same Bucks team that once confidently cruised to top-three finishes in the East under Mike Budenholzer. Say what you will about Bud’s playoff shortcomings, but his regular-season consistency was a foundation the franchise could build on. Since his firing, the Bucks’ decision-making at the coaching position has been, frankly, a mess.
Crowder, for his part, didn’t exactly live up to expectations either. Milwaukee gave up a decent haul to bring him in, hoping he’d be a tough, playoff-tested wing who could make a difference.
Instead, he ended up being one of the more underwhelming acquisitions in recent memory. But here’s the thing-he hasn’t been with the team for a season and a half.
The Bucks are currently 12th in the East. That’s not on him.
It’s hard to argue against the numbers, and in this case, Crowder’s criticisms-whether rooted in personal frustration or not-line up with what’s happened on the floor. The Bucks have lost their edge, their identity, and maybe even the trust of their franchise cornerstone in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For now, Crowder walks away from this exchange with the scoreboard in his favor. The bigger question is whether the Bucks can find a way to stop the bleeding before this spiral takes them even further from the contender status they once held.
More to come as this situation continues to unfold in Milwaukee.