Bucks Coach Rivers Blames Injuries for Dismal Season

Rivers claims injuries ruined Bucks' chances, but the team's roster was questionable to begin with.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:04pm

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Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has blamed injuries for his team's dismal 29-45 record and failure to make the playoffs this season. However, critics argue that the Bucks' starting lineup and roster depth were already suspect, suggesting the team was unlikely to be a serious contender even if healthy.

Why it matters

The Bucks' struggles this season, despite having a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, have raised questions about the team's long-term direction and Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise. Rivers' comments about injuries deflecting blame away from the team's overall roster construction and performance.

The details

The Bucks entered the season with a starting lineup of Giannis Antetokounmpo, A.J. Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent, and Myles Turner, along with a bench featuring Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince. Rivers claims injuries to key players derailed the Bucks' season, but critics argue the team's roster was questionable from the start and unlikely to be a serious playoff contender even at full strength.

  • The Bucks currently have a 29-45 record as of March 29, 2026.

The players

Doc Rivers

The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who has blamed injuries for his team's poor performance this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The superstar player for the Milwaukee Bucks, whose future with the franchise has been called into question due to the team's struggles.

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What they’re saying

“If not for injuries, says Rivers, this year's Bucks (and recent years' Bucks) would've been a more serious operation, rather than getting eliminated, in some fashion, in early spring.”

— Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Milwaukee Bucks

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges facing the Bucks organization, as they struggle to build a contending team around Giannis Antetokounmpo. While injuries played a role, the team's overall roster construction and depth issues appear to be the more significant factors behind their dismal season.