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Carmelo Anthony defends Giannis amid Doc Rivers' comments on player IQ

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 12, 2026, 4:25 PM

Last updated Nov 12, 2026

Carmelo Anthony defends Giannis amid Doc Rivers' comments on player IQ

Summary

Carmelo Anthony shared his thoughts on Doc Rivers' controversial remarks about Giannis Antetokounmpo during a recent podcast. Rivers criticized Giannis, suggesting he has a low basketball IQ and plays predominantly with a driving style. Anthony disagreed with Rivers’ approach, stressing that Giannis's physical style is effective and shouldn't be criticized. He acknowledged that playing with Giannis can be challenging, and questioned the necessity of Rivers' comments. Anthony compared Giannis to Russell Westbrook, noting how public perception shifts based on performance. Anthony’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate about player styles and coaching critiques in the NBA.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Carmelo Anthony defended Giannis Antetokounmpo's playing style.
•Doc Rivers criticized Giannis' basketball IQ in a podcast.
•Anthony questioned the need for Rivers' public comments.
•He compared Giannis to Russell Westbrook regarding fan perception.
•Anthony emphasized the effectiveness of Giannis' relentless game.

Latest Updates

4:25 PMYahoo Sports — Carmelo Anthony thinks Doc Rivers wrong to say quiet part out loud about Giannis

What they're saying

"
On the latest episode of 7 PM In Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony weighed in on Doc Rivers’ comments about coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks. Rivers was a guest on Bill Simmons’ podcast and alleged that the former two-time MVP has a low basketball IQ and plays only one style : driving to the basket. Anthony defended Giannis […] The post Carmelo Anthony thinks Doc Rivers wrong to say quiet part out loud about Giannis appeared first on ClutchPoints.
— Yahoo Sports

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