In a recent episode of ESPN’s “NBA Today,” former NBA player turned analyst, Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back when discussing Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach, Doc Rivers.
Perkins, who played under Rivers during his time with the Boston Celtics, criticized Rivers’ coaching strategies following the Bucks’ challenging start to the 2024-25 NBA season.
The Bucks, who began the season with a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, have since lost six consecutive games. Perkins pointed to a lack of communication and teamwork as key issues plaguing the team.
“Look at this, nobody is communicating. These are five veteran players, and Ja Morant throws a Magic Johnson no-look for a wide-open dunk,” Perkins said on the show.
Perkins also suggested that Rivers might be better suited for broadcasting than coaching.
“I feel sorry for Doc Rivers because he coulda been up here with me on television. But he chose to do that. Doc looks like he wants to be back on TV,” Perkins remarked.
.@KendrickPerkins doesn’t like what he’s seeing from Doc Rivers, Giannis, Dame, and the Bucks this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/rosCRjvjFQ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 1, 2024
The criticism didn’t stop there. Perkins continued to highlight the disconnect between Rivers and the players, stating,
“Your locker room is not hearing you, they are not feeling you. Something is going on and you have to fix the problem”.
Rivers, who transitioned to broadcasting before taking the Bucks’ coaching job, has faced increasing scrutiny as the team struggles. Perkins’ comments have added fuel to the debate about Rivers’ effectiveness as a coach and whether he can turn things around for the Bucks.
