WASHINGTON — As the latest batch of trade rumors started to swirl around Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, former Bucks forward Jae Crowder took to social media and sent out a post that was critical of the organization’s decision to fire Adrian Griffin and hire Doc Rivers in early 2024.
“We were 30-13 (by the way). To bring in Doc,” Crowder posted on X. “This is what started the avalanche.”
Crowder, who played for the Bucks in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, was on the roster when the team decided to dismiss Griffin after he had gotten out to a 30-13 start.
“That’s just a nice thing to say,” Rivers said, when asked about Crowder’s social media post.
Rivers told reporters that coaches have to be able to hear comments like that from former players and quickly forget them, but that doesn’t mean coaches can fully ignore those critiques.
“It hurts us all when you see somebody (do that), but usually there’s a reason behind it,” Rivers said. “Usually it’s called playing time, and you know that for sure.”
In the first nine games of the 2023-24 season, Crowder averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.7 minutes per game for Griffin before a left adductor and abdominal tear forced him to miss two months. The veteran forward did not return to action until the 41st game of the season, playing three more games for Griffin before the first-time head coach was dismissed.
Crowder played 35 games with Rivers as head coach in the 2023-24 season, starting 22 games and averaging 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. In the Bucks’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, Crowder appeared in the first four games of the series before not playing in Games 5-6.
“I always use the David Chappelle line, ‘When the titans are failing, the cowards will come out and crow,’” Rivers said. “And I’ve always thought that’s got a lot of truth to it.”