As trade rumors continue to swirl around Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, a familiar voice from the team’s recent past has added fuel to the fire. Jae Crowder, who suited up for the Bucks during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, took to social media to criticize the organization’s midseason coaching change - a move that saw Adrian Griffin dismissed despite a 30-13 start and replaced by veteran coach Doc Rivers.
“We were 30-13 (by the way). To bring in Doc,” Crowder posted on X. “This is what started the avalanche.”
That’s a strong statement from a player who was in the thick of it when the decision was made. Griffin, a first-time head coach, had the Bucks sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings when the front office made the surprising call to pivot. The move was met with raised eyebrows at the time, and Crowder’s recent comments suggest there are still lingering frustrations within the locker room - or at least from those who were part of it.
Rivers, now steering the ship in Milwaukee, didn’t shy away from responding when asked about Crowder’s remarks. His tone was measured, but the message was clear.
“That’s just a nice thing to say,” Rivers said. “It hurts us all when you see somebody do that, but usually there’s a reason behind it. Usually it’s called playing time, and you know that for sure.”
Rivers’ response hinted at the deeper dynamics that often influence public criticism - playing time, role changes, and the natural friction that can come when a new coach steps in with a different vision.
Crowder’s role did shift over the course of the season. Under Griffin, he averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.7 minutes per game through the first nine contests before suffering a left adductor and abdominal tear that sidelined him for two months. He returned just in time to play three more games under Griffin before the coaching change.
With Rivers at the helm, Crowder appeared in 35 games, starting 22 of them. His production dipped slightly - 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23.1 minutes - but he remained a rotation player. In the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, he played in the first four games but was absent from the floor in Games 5 and 6.
Rivers, never one to back down from a pointed comment, offered a quote that underscored his perspective on public criticism from former players.
“I always use the Dave Chappelle line, ‘When the titans are failing, the cowards will come out and crow,’” Rivers said. “And I’ve always thought that’s got a lot of truth to it.”
It’s a bold retort, but one that reflects the high-pressure environment of coaching in today’s NBA. When a team with championship aspirations makes a midseason coaching change, the ripple effects are felt across the roster - from the stars to the role players. And when things don’t go as planned, fingers start pointing in all directions.
The Bucks’ decision to move on from Griffin and bring in Rivers was always going to be scrutinized, especially if the postseason didn’t deliver the results the front office was banking on. Now, with trade chatter surrounding their franchise cornerstone and former players speaking out, the spotlight in Milwaukee is only getting hotter.
Whether this is just a blip in the rearview or the beginning of a larger reckoning remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: there’s no shortage of voices weighing in on how things have played out in Milwaukee - and not all of them are staying quiet.