Crowder posted on X<\/a>. \u201cThis is what started the avalanche.\u201d<\/p>\nCrowder, 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just a nice thing to say,\u201d Rivers said, when asked about Crowder\u2019s social media post.<\/p>\n
Rivers told reporters that coaches have to be able to hear comments like that from former players and quickly forget them, but that doesn\u2019t mean coaches can fully ignore those critiques.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts us all when you see somebody (do that), but usually there\u2019s a reason behind it,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cUsually it\u2019s called playing time, and you know that for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, Crowder appeared in the first four games of the series before not playing in Games 5-6.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always use the David Chappelle line, \u2018When the titans are failing, the cowards will come out and crow,\u2019\u201d Rivers said. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve always thought that\u2019s got a lot of truth to it.\u201d<\/p>\n