Rivers Calls Out Charania for 'Inaccurate' Bucks Report, Wants Wojnarowski Back

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers disputes ESPN insider's account of locker room tensions, says he has a good relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, vibrant colors, breaking down a basketball game or match into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, conceptually representing the complex dynamics between NBA coaches and media insiders.A cubist interpretation of the tensions between NBA coaches and media insiders, with fragmented geometric shapes representing the complex dynamics at play.Chicago Today

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers criticized ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania for an 'inaccurate' report about tensions in the Bucks' locker room, saying he wants his former colleague Adrian Wojnarowski to return to the reporting role instead. Rivers downplayed the incident, saying he and star player Giannis Antetokounmpo have a good relationship despite the contrary reports.

Why it matters

The dispute between Rivers and Charania highlights the ongoing tensions between NBA coaches and media insiders, as well as the challenges of reporting on sensitive locker room dynamics. It also raises questions about the reliability of insider reporting and the importance of maintaining strong relationships between teams and the media.

The details

In Charania's report, he said Rivers told his players to 'look up his résumé' during a team meeting, implying the coach was frustrated with the team's performance. However, Rivers denied the accuracy of Charania's account, saying the Bucks simply had a 'tough locker room day' after losing a game to the Chicago Bulls. Rivers said he showed his players clips of their mistakes, which is a normal part of the coaching process.

  • On April 12, 2026, Rivers criticized Charania's report during a media appearance.
  • Earlier this year, Rivers had already trolled Charania during a Bucks press conference.

The players

Doc Rivers

The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who has a history of success in the NBA, leading teams to the playoffs and championships.

Shams Charania

An ESPN NBA insider known for his reporting on player transactions and locker room dynamics.

Adrian Wojnarowski

A former ESPN NBA insider who left the reporting business to become the general manager of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The star player of the Milwaukee Bucks, who Rivers says he has a good relationship with despite reports of locker room tensions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I took teams to the playoffs and to the championship that weren't supposed to. I thought this was one of them. Either you're with us or against us. If you're not playing hard, we're not playing you anymore. I know everything that goes on in this building.”

— Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach

“We have a great relationship. You know, Shams wrote an article that was so accurate that I don't have enough time to go into. He talked about a locker room thing, and I was laughing like, yeah, we had a tough locker room day. We lost to the Chicago Bulls with a 20 point lead. I showed clips the next day of guys who were screwing up. That's what happens in a locker room. You know, the first thing I thought: where's Woj? I miss Woj so much.”

— Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach

What’s next

The Bucks' disappointing 32-49 season means they will have to wait until 2027 to try and make another playoff run.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between NBA coaches and media insiders, as well as the challenges of accurately reporting on sensitive locker room dynamics. It also raises questions about the reliability of insider reporting and the importance of maintaining strong relationships between teams and the media.