Despite Damian Lillard averaging 28.0 points per game and Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging a double-double, the Milwaukee Bucks have had a rough start. In four games this season, the Bucks have gone a disappointing 1-3, losing their last three games.
Understandably, many Bucks fans have grown dissatisfied with their team’s rough start. As such, they have asked for coach Doc Rivers to be replaced. However, Lillard appears to have offered a response to those asking for Rivers to be fired.
The star point guard posted an Instagram Story of Rivers helping him up from the floor. Lillard did not add any text to the post, giving it a cryptic nature.
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Rivers took over as head coach of the Bucks after Adrian Griffin was surprisingly let go last season. Griffin had a 30-13 record before he was fired. After he was released, Joe Prunty took over briefly as interim coach and the team went 2-1 under him.
When Rivers took over for the rest of the 2023-24 season, the Bucks went 17-19. With this year’s 1-3 start, Rivers’ record stands at 18-22.
Also read: Former Doc Rivers player refuses to blame him as Bucks’ 1-3 start causes NBA fan furor
Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks started the 2024-25 season on the right foot. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 124-109, on Oct. 23 for their season opener behind a 30-point game from Lillard. However, it has been downhill since that opening-day victory.
On Friday, they faced the Chicago Bulls for their second game of the year. The Bulls beat the Bucks, 133-122, despite strong performances from both Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard had 28 points and eight assists while Giannis put up a 38-point and 11-rebound double-double in the loss.
On Sunday, the Bucks faced the Brooklyn Nets. Lillard put up 21 points and Giannis had 22. However, the Nets won by 13 (115-102). This has been their biggest loss so far this year.
On Monday, the Bucks had a chance to bounce back against the defending champion Boston Celtics. Damian Lillard had his best performance so far this season against the Celtics. He registered 33 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Meanwhile, Giannis had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
However, the Bucks failed to execute and instead suffered a third-straight loss. Payton Pritchard came up big and scored 28 points off the bench for the Celtics. Pritchard’s 28-point game complemented Jaylen Brown’s 30-point performance, giving the defending champs an 11-point win (119-108).
Damian Lillard and the Bucks’ next chance to bounce back will come on Oct. 31 when they face the Memphis Grizzlies.
