“Back-to-back games now with incorrect calls on the final play,” lamented Doc Rivers following the Milwaukee Bucks’ narrow loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Rivers’ team has been struggling to make an impact this season. Once a third seed in the Western Conference last year, they now sit near the bottom, with twice as many losses as wins. The one-point defeat to the Hornets prompted the Bucks’ head coach to attribute the loss to a foul call against Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the star forward seemed less certain about the criticism.

After the game, Giannis fielded questions from reporters, one of whom mentioned Rivers’ disapproval of the controversial call. The reporter also noted Rivers’ claim that Giannis should have been awarded more free throws, alleging repeated contact by the Hornets’ defense. Giannis, however, appeared reluctant to fully endorse the coach’s perspective.

“When I came down, I felt like my arm was stinging, so that’s how I know if somebody hits me. You know like, when somebody slaps you really hard, your forearm stings” said the Bucks power forward/center. “So, when I came down, I felt my hand was like really stingy, so I was like ‘Okay he fouled me’. Because when I’m coming with full speed, you cannot really feel in the adrenaline. Like, I’m just trying to put everybody in the ring. So sometimes, I go so hard that it might not look like a foul, but might be a foul. So yeah, I don’t know.”

Despite everything, the fact that Doc Rivers stood up to defend Giannis meant a lot to the player. Therefore, he also added “I appreciate it. I definitely appreciate it and um, he has my back. I have his back.”

The controversial foul occurred in the closing moments of the Bucks-Hornets clash, with just seven seconds left on the clock. The Bucks were ahead by one point when Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to strip the ball from LaMelo Ball. As Ball attempted a crossover and dashed forward, he fell to the floor. Camera angles showed Giannis’ hand making contact with the Hornets’ guard, leading the officials to rule that the Bucks star’s actions caused the fall. The call awarded the Hornets two free throws, allowing them to take the lead with seven seconds remaining—and that was all it took.

Doc Rivers was visibly upset with the call, and took a shot at the previous games’ officiating too by stating “We were lucky in Detroit the kid missed two free throws. Tonight LaMelo Ball made the free throws.”

The NBA’s last two-minute report ultimately confirmed that the foul call was incorrect. However, the damage was already done. Despite the setback, the post-game interviews highlighted the mutual trust and faith between the coach and his star player. This dynamic is far from new; even during the team’s lowest moments, Rivers has consistently stood by Giannis. In turn, the ‘Greek Freak’ has shown unwavering loyalty to his coach whenever the opportunity arises.

“He’s trying” – Giannis Antetokounmpo came to Doc Rivers’ defense after Bucks 2-7 record:

One week ago, it was clear that the Milwaukee Bucks were struggling. Out of the nine regular season games, they had won only two! With Giannis Antetokounmpo and the players attempting their best, the blame landed on the one major thing that had changed between the current and previous seasons. That was Doc Rivers becoming head coach. According to reports, fans who were well accustomed with Rivers’ record with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers were quick to call for his firing. Amidst all this criticism, Giannis stood up to ask the same people to not lose hope so quickly.

“Doc is doing his best, he’s trying” said Giannis in a video. “He’s trying to figure out the rotation; he’s giving us the best speech possible. Changing our defensive plan, changing our offensive plan. He’s trying to adjust, make something happen, create a spark. You know I give him props on that.”

The situation hasn’t improved much for the Bucks, who now hold a 4-9 record. However, the mutual support between the coach and player highlights one key takeaway: their confidence remains intact. With the season still in its early stages, the Milwaukee Bucks have plenty of time to turn things around in the coming weeks—provided that confidence continues to drive them forward.