In a stunning development that has rocked the NBA community, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers has responded with visible shock and concern following the release of a scathing report by former Bucks interim head coach Joe Prunty, detailing what he calls a “deep-rooted culture problem” within the organization.
The explosive report, published early Friday morning in The Athletic, outlines claims of fractured relationships between key players, a lack of accountability in the locker room, and a front office disconnected from the team’s day-to-day dynamics. Prunty, who stepped in briefly as interim coach in 2023, says the problems date back several seasons and were “systematically ignored” by leadership.
According to sources cited in the report, tensions between former head coach Adrian Griffin and star players including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were far more serious than previously reported—culminating in a breakdown in trust that allegedly lingered into Rivers’ tenure.
Doc Rivers, who took over mid-season in 2024, addressed the report in a hastily arranged press conference Friday afternoon.
“I was blindsided,” Rivers said. “I came here with full confidence in the organization’s direction, and to hear this from someone who sat in this seat—even for a short time—is deeply disappointing. If any of it is true, it needs to be addressed. Immediately.”
Rivers emphasized that while he has seen “no signs” of the kind of dysfunction described, he is not dismissing the allegations. He pledged to conduct a full internal review and speak with both current players and staff about the claims.
“We’re talking about the integrity of a locker room, the trust between a coach and his team. That’s sacred. And if that’s been compromised at any point, we owe it to the fans and the franchise to fix it,” Rivers added.
The Bucks front office has yet to issue a formal response to the report, though insiders say a statement is expected by Monday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has remained publicly supportive of Rivers, has not commented, but sources close to the star say he was “surprised” by some of the revelations, particularly claims that players had requested trades or threatened to sit out games during the 2023 season.
The NBA has declined to comment on the specifics of the report but confirmed that Commissioner Adam Silver is “monitoring the situation.”
With the Bucks recently eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, this controversy adds fuel to an already turbulent offseason—one that could determine the future direction of a team once considered a perennial title contender.