Giannis Antetokounmpo 'didn't want to be the bad guy' and ask for trade from Bucks, says Doc Rivers

MIAMI, FLORIDA - Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup game at Kaseya Center. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)Megan Briggs via Getty ImagesGiannis Antetokounmpo did not want to be the “bad guy” and ask for a trade, which is why he kept “yo-yoing” about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Doc Rivers.The former Bucks head coach was on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” this week and said that Antetokounmpo did not want to publicly ask to be moved — he wanted general manager Jon Horst and owner Wes Edens to be the reasons why the two-time MVP was dealt."Giannis wanted out, but he was a Buck. And he didn't want to be the bad guy," Rivers said. "He wanted Jon and Wes 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."As his time appeared to be coming to an end in Milwaukee and with his future hanging over the franchise last season, Antetokounmpo said multiple times that he would "never" ask out.Doc Rivers says Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted out of Milwaukee, but didn't want to look like the "bad guy" to protect his legacy"Giannis wanted out, but he was a Buck. And he didn't want to be the bad guy. He wanted John and Wes and those guys to say, 'we're trading you' instead… pic.twitter.com/kZB6R0ZArs— NBABase (@TheNBABase) November 6, 2026"There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, 'I want a trade,'" Antetokounmpo told The Athletic in January.ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo's camp had told the team since May 2025 that he felt it was best the two sides part ways.The Antetokounmpo trade drama finally ended in June when he was dealt to the Miami Heat.Rivers also spoke about how difficult it was to coach Antetokounmpo when the two worked together for parts of three seasons with the Bucks.“He’s not easy. He plays at this crazy downhill pace. He’s really a difficult guy,” Rivers said. “He has this great passing ability, but he doesn’t necessarily have super IQ at the same time. It’s really a strange thing. He really has one way. Every play he wants to force it. I wished he learned how to execute better.“The thing he needs to still learn is the value of execution. How important it is when you’re in practice and in shoot around to lock in on execution. Now he has a coach who’s as good as there is in execution.”While Antetokounmpo is off to a strong start through nine games by averaging 27.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per night, his team is 3-6. The Bucks, meanwhile, are 1-9 and enter Friday's game against the Toronto Raptors losers of four in a row.