Doc Rivers Compares Preparing For Giannis Antetokounmpo To Preparing For LeBron James And Kevin Durant


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Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent the early part of this season making everyone who picked him as an MVP candidate this season look really, really smart. The Greek Freak has been outstanding through the first 20 games of the year, leading Milwaukee to a 14-6 record while averaging 26.8 points, 13 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. It’s stat-sheet stuffing the likes of which few can match, especially because he has guard-like skills in a power forward’s body.

He’s an absolute nightmare to play against, and as Doc Rivers explains, having to prepare to go up against him isn’t any easier. The Los Angeles Clippers coach appeared on FS1’s Undisputed on Tuesday morning and doled out some serious praise to Antetokounmpo when discussing having to gameplan against a player of his caliber.

“He’s a mess,” Rivers said. “He’s as tough … Durant, LeBron, and him as far as preparing for. It’s funny, and listen, I’m a defensive-minded guy, but there’s times in the meeting when you’re talking like ‘that’ll work, that’s gonna work,’ because they’re that good. And he does it in such a different way — he doesn’t do it with the shot, he does it with the attack, and at his size, he’s a mess.”

Rivers’ comments about saying things would work was said facetiously, as evidenced by the fact that he said that you basically have to “try to build a wall” around the rim to keep him from getting buckets. Still, it’s a testament to where Antetokounmpo is as a player that a coach with the clout of Rivers is already comparing him to two of the best players of all-time.

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