It doesn’t look like JJ Redick and the current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers will be exchanging birthday cards anytime soon.
A respected NBA analyst, Redick is known as a bright basketball mind who wasn’t afraid to go after his former coach.
JJ Redick rips into Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers.
On Tuesday’s edition of ESPN First Take, Redick slammed Rivers by challenging him to be accountable as a coach for this team.
Redick said the following.
“I’ve seen the trend now, I’ve seen the trend for years. The trend is always making excuses, Doc we get it, taking over a team in the middle of the season is hard. It’s 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…
“They lose to Memphis, oh it’s his players fault. Memphis was playing G-League guys and two-way guys. Then you look at his quotes over the weekend, now he wants to take credit for the James Harden trade to the Clippers working out, he wants credit for that? There’s never accountability with that guy.”
JJ Redick isn’t wrong. Doc Rivers is a respected coach, but he’s already starting to plant some excuses on why Milwaukee is 3-7 in his tenure.
Doc Rivers says his new coaching gig with Milwaukee has "been probably more difficult than I thought."
“Taking a job when you’re about to go on the toughest road trip of the season is not the smartest decision. I even told them that: ‘Can we wait ‘til All-Star break?’ It would… pic.twitter.com/v921PLLZdz
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 18, 2024
Who says that after they take a job? Ownership was going to fire Adrian Griffin anyway, so what purpose would it have served if they waited until All-Star Break? Also, why did he laminate about the tough West Coast Trip? Milwaukee was 30-13 when they fired Griffin this is supposed to be one of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference, and admitting this didn’t instill a lot of confidence that the team could have won a couple of games on that trip.
How about this doozy?
Doc Rivers, on the Bucks effort tonight:
"We had some guys here. We had some guys in Cabo."
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 16, 2024
Remind me again. Who’s supposed to get everybody to play? Ziarie Williams and GG Jackson II combined for 54 of the team’s 113 points. It sounds like Doc Rivers was the one in Cabo.
Nobody’s questioning this was going to be an adjustment period for Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks, but the excuses for taking this job when you did or Milwaukee’s effort level is 100 percent on you.
As a coach, it’s his job to prepare the team to play basketball. He didn’t do a good enough job on Thursday night, and that’s why Milwaukee lost to a team full of G-Leaguers and two-way guys.
The Doc Rivers era has gotten off to a bumpy start, but one current Milwaukee Bucks and former LA Clippers who played under Rivers responded to Redick’s diatribe.
This Man Doc actually saved your career. Started you when no one else wanted 2. And u retire go on TV and say that. @jj_redick
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) February 20, 2024
All respect in the world for Patrick Beverley. This is a player, who you want to get into the foxhole with, and he’s all about winning, so credit to him for sticking up for his coach.
Redick responded to Beverley’s claims.
Pat my guy I had a four year offer with player option for the same money to be a starter for a different team. FOH “saved my career”. https://t.co/5lXowm2j8e
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) February 20, 2024
I think Redick would have been successful with or without Doc Rivers. A three-point marksmen, Redick had a chance to join the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, and while he didn’t win a championship, he had a successful NBA career.
Hopefully, Doc Rivers can get this team back on track starting on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For more Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more content. To check out more top-tier Wisconsin Sports Content, click here!
