Doc Rivers has served as the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach for two seasons now. Throughout his career, Rivers has coached a total of five teams, including the Bucks.
Looking at Doc’s résumé, he won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and has coached several All-Stars throughout his career. Having that in mind, some might be curious to know who the best player Rivers has ever coached. Surprisingly, it isn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Doc Rivers Doesn’t See Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Best Player He’s Ever Coached
For the second consecutive season, Rivers is the head coach of the Bucks. He is currently commanding a team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has already proven to be a future Hall of Famer.
Looking at Antetokounmpo’s career achievements, he’s a one-time NBA champion, a one-time NBA Finals MVP, a one-time NBA Cup Champion, a one-time NBA Cup MVP, a two-time NBA MVP, a 10-time NBA All-Star, a one-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year, and is part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Given those accolades, one would expect Rivers to see Giannis as the best player he’s ever coached. However, the Bucks’ head coach shockingly named someone else the top guy: Joel Embiid.
Ahead of the Bucks’ matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rivers said, “Joel is the most talented player I’ve ever coached…Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs.”
“Joel is the most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Doc Rivers said. “…Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs.”
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 27, 2026
Rivers served as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020 to 2023. At the time, Joel Embiid was still the top dog on the team. While Embiid is still technically the best player on the 76ers today, injuries meant guys like Tyrese Maxey stepped up to lead the team in his absence.
Drafted as the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Embiid is a one-time NBA MVP (2023), a seven-time All-Star, one All-NBA First team selection (2023), and three NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections. In 2023, under Rivers, Embiid arguably enjoyed his best season, averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
While Rivers did not clarify the reason behind picking Embiid, he will surely be focused on getting Milwaukee back on track, which is currently out of the postseason picture, sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with an 18-27 record.
Following the 139-122 road defeat to the 76ers, the Bucks will face the Washington Wizards in another away matchup, looking to halt their three-game skid during a difficult season marked by speculation and rumors about Antetokounmpo’s future with the franchise.
