If things weren’t already complicated enough in Milwaukee, Doc Rivers just added a little more fuel to the fire-and he didn’t even need to say Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name to do it.
Ahead of the Bucks’ loss to the Sixers on Tuesday night, Rivers-now coaching Giannis and the Bucks-was asked about Joel Embiid, his former MVP center in Philadelphia. What he said raised more than a few eyebrows.
“I was telling a very, very, very Hall of Fame player that I coached that Joel’s the most talented player that I ever coached,” Rivers said. “And he was like, ‘What?’ And I was like, ‘He is.’”
Now, let’s be clear: Rivers didn’t name names. But when you’re standing in front of the media while coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo and you go out of your way to crown Embiid as the most talented player you’ve ever coached? That’s going to land with some weight in the locker room-and maybe even more outside of it.
Giannis and the Bucks: A Situation That’s Getting Harder to Ignore
Is Doc trying to push Giannis out the door? Probably not. But intentional or not, comments like this don’t exactly help a team trying to steady itself in a rocky stretch of the season.
Milwaukee hasn’t looked like itself lately. The Bucks are slipping in the standings, Giannis recently called out the team’s effort before being sidelined with a calf issue, and let’s not forget-he reportedly asked to be traded to New York this past offseason.
That didn’t materialize, but the smoke hasn’t cleared. His future in Milwaukee still feels unsettled.
Sure, Giannis has said he won’t request a trade. But around the league, we’ve seen this movie before.
Superstars who’ve spent their entire careers with one team often reach a point where they start to question the direction of the franchise. It doesn’t always mean a trade is imminent, but it does mean the door is cracked open.
And when Giannis says he can’t control what his agents tell the Bucks? Let’s be honest-agents don’t float trade scenarios without the player’s blessing. That’s not how this works.
Doc’s Comments: Not a Smoking Gun, But Definitely a Spark
It’s important to keep Doc’s quote in perspective. Saying Embiid is the most talented player he’s coached doesn’t mean he’s dismissing Giannis.
Talent is subjective, and Doc has coached a long list of elite players. But when your current star is a two-time MVP and Finals champion, and you’re still talking up your ex-center like this?
It’s not going to go unnoticed.
Especially not in a moment where the Bucks are trying to re-center themselves under a new head coach, and Giannis’ long-term commitment remains a question mark.
The Knicks Are Watching-and Waiting
If Giannis ever does become available, the Knicks will be at the front of the line, even if their trade assets aren’t as flashy as other teams'. They can’t offer a first-round pick until the summer, and several teams have more compelling packages to put on the table. But that doesn’t mean New York is out of the picture.
Giannis holds the leverage here. He’s under contract through next season, with a player option for 2027-28.
That gives him the power to influence where he lands if a trade ever becomes necessary. If he signals that he’ll only sign an extension with a specific team-say, the Knicks-other suitors may back off, unwilling to risk a one-year rental.
That’s why New York is playing the long game. They’re not just waiting for a blockbuster to fall in their lap-they’re quietly making moves that could make them more appealing to a player like Giannis.
Their reported interest in Jrue Holiday, Giannis’ former teammate, wasn’t just about Holiday’s on-court value. It was also about sending a message: This is a place where you’ll be supported, where we’re building something serious.
Small Moves, Big Picture
In isolation, Rivers’ comment probably doesn’t shift the Giannis sweepstakes. But it adds another wrinkle to an already intriguing situation. When you zoom out, it’s one more moment in a season full of them-a season where the Bucks feel a little less stable, and where Giannis’ future feels a little less certain.
For the Knicks, that’s not a win yet. But it’s another step toward putting themselves in position if (or when) the opportunity arises.
And if Doc Rivers’ words end up nudging things in that direction, even a little? New York won’t be complaining.