JJ Redick Criticizes Doc Rivers Amid Milwaukee Bucks’ Struggles: “There’s Never Accountability with That Guy

Former NBA player JJ Redick recently expressed criticism towards his former coach, Doc Rivers, amidst the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent struggles. Redick, who played under Rivers during his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, aired his grievances regarding Rivers’ coaching approach and handling of the Bucks’ current challenges.

The backdrop of Redick’s criticism stems from Rivers’ transition to the Milwaukee Bucks as head coach in late January. Since Rivers took over coaching duties from Adrian Griffin, the Bucks have faced difficulties, winning only three games during this period. Rivers himself acknowledged the challenges of taking on a coaching role mid-season, particularly amidst a demanding road trip, but Redick seemed unconvinced by what he perceived as Rivers’ tendency to make excuses rather than taking full responsibility for the team’s performance.

During an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” Redick highlighted what he saw as a recurring pattern of Rivers making excuses for the team’s shortcomings. He cited Rivers’ recent comments regarding the unexpected difficulties he encountered upon assuming the Bucks’ coaching role. Rivers lamented the timing of his appointment, suggesting that taking the job just before a challenging road trip was less than ideal. Redick interpreted this as yet another excuse, implying that Rivers was deflecting accountability by blaming external factors.

Furthermore, Redick criticized Rivers’ handling of the Bucks’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies just before the All-Star break. Despite the defeat, Rivers chose to deploy key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for significant minutes. After the game, Rivers made comments seemingly attributing the loss to the players’ effort, insinuating that some players were not fully committed. Redick viewed these remarks as an attempt by Rivers to shift blame onto the players rather than acknowledging his own coaching decisions.

Additionally, Redick called attention to Rivers’ recent remarks regarding James Harden’s trade to the Clippers. Rivers suggested that his influence played a role in facilitating the trade, a claim that Redick found questionable. Redick viewed Rivers’ comments as an attempt to take credit for the trade’s success while avoiding any accountability for potential shortcomings.

In response to Redick’s criticism, Patrick Beverley, who played under Rivers with the Clippers, defended his former coach, suggesting that Rivers had played a significant role in Redick’s career. Beverley argued that Rivers had “saved” Redick’s NBA career by providing him with opportunities when others might not have. However, Redick pushed back against this assertion, indicating that he had other options available to him at the time.

Overall, Redick’s critique of Rivers reflects his perception of a lack of accountability and a tendency to make excuses rather than taking full responsibility for the team’s performance. Whether Rivers addresses these criticisms or not remains to be seen, but Redick’s comments have sparked a conversation about coaching accountability in the NBA.