Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t hide his excitement ahead of Doc Rivers’ official debut as Milwaukee Bucks head coach.
Rivers has been officially announced as the Bucks’ new head coach on Friday, replacing the recently fired Adrian Griffin. He is now set to debut on Monday when Milwaukee goes on the road to face the reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets.
Before that, though, the Bucks had one more game to play on Saturday. They took on the New Orleans Pelicans and dominated en route to the 141-117 victory.
When talking to reporters postgame, Antetokounmpo was asked about his thoughts on the Rivers hiring and how it impacts the team. The Greek Freak highlighted that the addition of the one-time champion coach inspires a lot of confidence on the Bucks, especially since all of them are well aware of his accomplishments.
“Obviously, it’s a coach that’s a legend. You can tell there’s great energy about him from the first meeting that we had to the second meeting that we had, it was all about the team – how can we keep each other accountable, how can we touch one another, how can we come together as a team, how can we move the ball. From just the energy he has, it gives you a lot of confidence. I think it gives the locker room confidence. I can’t wait,” Antetokounmpo explained, per Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop.
While Doc Rivers has one just one NBA title throughout his lengthy coaching career, he has earned a reputation as a great defensive coach who is also an excellent motivator. The fact that he has also coached multiple Hall of Famers and all-time greats in his career also raises hope that he can also succeed with two stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Damian Lillard Just as Hyped as Giannis Antetokounmpo on Milwaukee Bucks’ Doc Rivers Hire
For what it’s worth, it’s not only Giannis Antetokounmpo who is excited to have Doc Rivers as his head coach. Even Damian Lillard couldn’t help but feel confident about the Milwaukee Bucks’ title chances with the veteran coach at the helm.
For Lillard, Rivers feels like the right coach for the team considering what he has accomplished in his career. Dame Time also expressed belief that Rivers will be able to challenge him, Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team in order to further elevate their respective games.
“There’s nothing he hasn’t experienced and I just think his voice, how he’s able to motivate teams…he’s a strong voice and he’s gonna demand more from our team. He’s not gonna be afraid to challenge myself. He’s not gonna be afraid to challenge Giannis. He’s not gonna be afraid to challenge Brook and Khris and all the way down the line. I think when you’re dealing with a team that’s full of vets and as talented as we are, I think that’s something that you need if you want to reach the level we want to reach and I think he’s the perfect person for it,” Lillard shared, per Stoltz.
Of course the challenge is now on Rivers to deliver. Fortunately for Bucks fans, the wait to see what their new coach can don’t won’t be too long anymore.
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