Former Celtics Coach Doc Rivers Clarifies Alleged Giannis Trade Request
When Doc speaks, we listen.
If you’re an NBA fan who’s been sleeping under a rock for the past couple of days, we’re here to tell you that Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly discussing a possible departure from the Milwaukee Bucks with the franchise, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Shams, Giannis and his agent Alex Saratsis have begun conversations with Milwaukee’s brass about Giannis’ future, with the question at the center of everything being whether or not the Greek Freak should stay or go.
Naturally, all corners of the NBA universe reacted with chaotic excitement to the Giannis news … except people associated with the Bucks, not least of all the team’s head coach, Doc Rivers.
Rivers, an NBA championship-winning coach with the Boston Celtics in 2008, is about as well-respected as you can get in NBA and professional sports circles. His words carry weight, much like his sparkling reputation.
This made his revelations about Giannis interesting. In the wake of Charania’s reporting, Rivers stated clearly that Antetokounmpo has never asked to be traded.
It’s possible that both Shams and Doc are correct here. After all, Charania didn’t anywhere assert that Giannis “requested a trade”; rather, he indicated that Giannis and his agent have begun talking about the possibility of one with the Bucks’ front office.
This is going to be an interesting saga to follow over the next couple of months. Don’t rule out the Celtics from getting involved in the mess. The NBA trade deadline is February 5.
