The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2024 season with high hopes after paring Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Moreover, Doc Rivers joined the team as the new head coach in January. Rivers’ squad exited the NBA Playoffs early after a 4-2 first-round defeat to the Indiana Pacers. Some analysts, such as JJ Redick, have questioned Rivers’ leadership and accountability, but Rivers is firing back.

Bucks' Doc Rivers stands across from JJ Redick reacting to accountability comments

In February, JJ Redick was led to believe that Doc Rivers had a knack for dodging accountability when his team loses.

“The trend is always making excuses… Taking over a team in the middle of a season is hard… it’s always an excuse. It’s always throwing your team under the bus… there’s never accountability with that guy,” Redick said.

Redick highlighted his issue with Rivers by using the Bucks’ 113-110 loss to the undermanned Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 10th. The Grizzlies had numerous players hurt and beat Milwaukee with a deep bench lineup. Redick noted how Rivers said the Bucks’ players needed to be more focused.

However, Rivers defended himself on the Stephen A. Smith Show in mid-May. He started by claiming that JJ Redick took an incredible leap under his coaching with the Clippers.

“JJ Redick’s best numbers of his career was under one coach and your looking at him. I’m the one who grabbed him out of Milwaukee and decided to start him. From that point on, his career took off,” Rivers said via the Stephen A. Smith Show.

Redick averaged 15.8 points and shot a blazing 44.0 percent on three-pointers during his Clippers tenure, so he was indeed productive under Rivers. Rivers admitted that it is perfectly fine for Redick and other players to disagree with the way he operates, but the veteran coach believes what he does is rooted in a good place.

There is one way Rivers can put concerns about his leadership away: winning.

Bucks look to bounce back after injury-plagued end to the 2024 seasons

JJ Redick vs. Doc Rivers beef, explained: History, timeline of the events after Bucks coach responds to criticism | Sporting News

The Bucks might have had a better postseason showing if their stars were healthy.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had big plans for Milwaukee in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but a late regular season calf strain prevented him from playing. Antetokounmpo was playing some of the best basketball of his career in 2023-24. The 29-year-old averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks.

Unfortunately, the NBA world did not get to see what the star forward could do in the postseason with Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers traded Lillard to Milwaukee shortly before the start of the regular season. As a result, the Bucks’ championship odds increased. However, things did not come to fruition in 2024.

Lillard suffered an Achilles injury that caused him to miss some of the Pacers series. Before that, he achieved stout regular-season production. Lillard averaged 24.4 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Ironically, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother Thanasis also suffered a lower leg injury. He devastatingly sustained a torn Achilles tendon after Milwaukee’s playoff run against the Pacers. Hopefully, all of the Bucks’ injured stars undergo efficient recoveries ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Milwaukee will look to get back to the top of the East under the leadership of Doc Rivers and the team’s stars.

Christopher Smith is a sports journalist who primarily covers the NBA, NCAA Basketball, NFL, and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, Illinois native received his education from Creighton University, and he has bylines at Last Word on Sports and FanSided.