Giannis Antetokounmpo was a late scratch for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The former back-to-back MVP has been dealing with a hamstring problem, among other injuries, which ultimately led to the decision to give him the day off on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has now opened up about the tough conversation he had with Antetokounmpo right before the decision was made to have him sit out Sunday’s contest.
Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Speaks Out on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Injury
Coach Doc has already stated that there should not be any cause for concern for Antetokounmpo’s sudden absence. It was nothing more than a routine rest day for the banged-up superstar — one that required a brutally honest conversation between coach and player:
“It’s funny, we literally had a talk today,” Rivers said on Saturday after practice, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “I said, ‘Hey, love the heroes. I just don’t like heroes in March. I like them in June.’
“The only thing I said was I don’t know your body. I just want you to be healthy, and you got to use your own — and with our medical team.
“And I don’t get involved because I’ve learned players can read that as me pressuring them to play or not to play, and you just can’t win with that. I just wanted him to know that it’s okay if he can’t go. And so that’s how I phrased it without being involved. And I think it’s important to him to know that, but I think our medical team has done a great job with him.”
Knowing Giannis, this dude would always choose to suit up and play through injuries as much as he can. Every once in a while, the coaching staff and the medical team just need to remind him to be more prudent and to look at the bigger picture.
Ultimately, the decision to have Antetokounmpo sit out on Sunday appears to have paid off for the Bucks. Not only did they manage to win against the Suns without their best player, but Giannis will now have a total of five days rest ahead of Wednesday’s highly-anticipated clash against the Boston Celtics.
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