Giannis Antetokounmpo claims there’s no blood on his hands.
The Bucks superstar denied Wednesday having any role in the Milwaukee’s stunning firing of rookie head coach Adrian Griffin after just 43 games.
“I loved the guy. I invited him to my wedding,” Antetokounmpo said after Milwaukee’s 126-116 win over the Cavaliers. “I was coached by him and we did very, very, very well. … When somebody is being hired, at times the GM might come and ask, ‘What do you think about that? What do you think about this?’ or whatever and not just me — players, people that he trusts their advice.
“But at times, they make it seem like it’s the players that are making the decision. … Like, no. I have a job. My job is to be the best version I can be and try to lead this team to win games, that’s what I get paid. I don’t get paid to change people’s lives and make people uncomfortable.”
The Bucks hired Doc Rivers to replace Griffin, though interim coach Joe Prunty led the team on Wednesday night.
The Bucks seemed to be in good spirits in their first game since the move as the team’s X account posted a video of the players dancing prior to taking the court.
Antetokounmpo then led the way with a triple-double, scoring 35 points to go along with 18 rebounds and 10 assists to beat a Cleveland team the Bucks lost to by 40 points just a week prior.
Some have speculated how much of a role Antetokounmpo played in the dismissal since he carries so much weight as the team’s superstar and two-time NBA MVP.
A Sports Illustrated report stated Antetokounmpo and the Bucks veterans had “lost faith” in Griffin.
Antetokounmpo had previously vouched for Griffin to be hired after Mike Budenholzer’s dismissal, and said this change surprised him.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst also said the team’s decision was made by the ownership group and the front office, not the players.
“I’ve got to trust the front office, I’ve got to trust the ownership group that they consider the bigger picture,” Antetokounmpo said. “My job is to be the best version of myself, to lead this team out there and help win games. Their job is to create the best team possible and the best atmosphere around the team possible.
“I know that they believe this gives us a better chance to win a championship. But, yeah, I do think it was a surprise.”
The Bucks began the post-Griffin era with a solid win over a division rival, and Rivers will now be tasked with bringing out the best in a team that most agree is not playing to its potential.
While the Bucks are 31-13, tied for the second-best record in the NBA, something has seemed off all season long, particularly on the defensive end.
“From defense to offense, from our chemistry, from the way we practice, from our level of focus when we go out there, there’s a lot of things that we could do better,” Antetokounmpo said.
