Three days after Doc Rivers’ scathing outburst about Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat player has chosen to respond.
Giannis admits to being “speechless” at Rivers’ criticism, who did not hold back in taking aim at his one-dimensional game.
“To start with, he’s not my coach right now,” said Antetokounmpo.
“My coach right now is Spo (Erik Spoelstra), but this is someone I have worked with in the past and I’m left speechless,” he admitted.
After some back and forth with local reporters, the two-time regular-season MVP wanted to expand on his response.
“You’ll have to ask him directly why he thought that. That’s his thing, not mine. I just have to focus on my team and on what I need to do. On how I can improve and how I can help them as a team,” he explained.
“But my God. All of that has been crazy. Never let bitterness get in the way of your goals and your dreams. For any athlete, never let… It’s crazy. But you have to ask him directly why he said it,” he added.
His final season with the Bucks was marked by trade rumours and, ultimately, by injury.
He was barely able to play 36 games, with averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
This summer, after many rumours linking him to New York, Golden State or Boston, his move to Miami Heat was finally agreed along with his teammate Bobby Portis.
Under Spoelstra he has started the new season with a record of 4-6 and numbers of 27.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night.
(Cover photo: Reuters)
