Home/NBA

USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Among respected coaches in the league, the name Doc Rivers never really rings a bell. The primary reason for that is Rivers’ consistent penchant to fail despite having talented talent. Fans witnessed this when he squandered a prime Tracy Mcgrady’s championship hopes in Orlando, followed by an unremarkable stint at the ‘Lob City’ Clippers. The only time Rivers won a championship was in Boston after having three Hall of Famers in Kevin Garnett, Paul Peirce, and Ray Allen.

So, one should logically ask, why then does a successful Bucks team, that was just figuring its quirks out, fire their head coach Adrian Griffin and replace him with Doc? The answer lay in Milwaukee’s defensive woes. However, since Rivers took the reigns, the Bucks have won 3 games only. Even losing to a starless Memphis team, who in the absence of Ja Morant and Desmund Bane, consist of a bunch of rookies and G-leaguers in its roster. Now, finally, JJ Redick had enough.

JJ Redick Calls Out Doc Rivers

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In a clip posted on the official X account of ESPN’s First Take, the former NBA sharpshooter calls out Doc’s Antics. “The trend is always making excuses. Doc, we get it, taking over a team in the middle of the season is hard, it’s hard we get it, just like getting traded in the middle of the season is hard for a player we get it. But it’s always an excuse, it’s always throwing your team under the bus,” said Reddick.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

He further confronted Doc by mentioning the Bucks’s loss in Memphis, “They lose to Memphis, it’s his player’s fault, Memphis was playing G-league guys and two way guys.” The final nail in the coffin came when the former Sixer mentioned Doc’s recent comments about the James Harden Trade. Over the All-Star Weekend, Doc was coaching the East team, during that time in an interview with Clutch Points, he admitted to facilitating Harden’s trade to the Clippers.

“I was the one, obviously, they consulted. They made calls, and I was one of the guys who said it would be a great deal for them because I thought he fit them better than he would fit the Sixers team. I think he’s a perfect fit there,” said Rivers. To this, Reddick responded by saying, “He wants credit for that? there’s no accountability with that guy!”

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Points Out Bucks’ Glaring Discrepancies in Doc Rivers Era

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Doc’s comments do seem a little untimely, considering Buck’s current situation. However, did he really have anything to do with the trade? Or is JJ right to call him out?

Watch the Story: Damian Lillard Wreaks Havoc as Mavs Choke in Clutch – 3 Takeaways as Bucks Nullify Luka “Magic” and Kyrie Irving Wizardry