[Adam Aaronson, Sixers beatwriter] “Joel(Embiid) is the most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Doc Rivers said. “…Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs.”
Adam Aaronson, Sixers beatwriter, on BlueSky:
“Joel is the most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Doc Rivers said. “…Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs.”
Unfortunately for me the only time Embiid was healthy in the playoffs Shake Milton was his 2nd best player.
Easier to stay healthy for 4 games lol
Shake catching strays 😂
Timberwolves legend.
Oklahoma high school bball legend
Never forget Shake scoring 39…against Doc’s Clippers.
Not when he had prime Ben Simmons, JJ Reddick and Jimmy Butler?
Vibes in Milwaukee are great I see
We losing Giannis lmao
At least they won a ring with him
Doc rivers final gift to bucks fans
Unironically would be the best thing he’s done for then.
Only explanation is Giannis somehow fucked Doc’s daughter
Boy have you lost your mind, cuz I’ll help you find it!
What was the point of him saying this? Am I missing something? He has to know how this will be taken by the public when he has Giannis on his team and he’s one of the best players in the world
This sounds extremely petty, like he doesn’t care to watch his words because he’s upset with Giannis
Although I feel your sentiments, this:
like he doesn’t care to watch his words because he’s upset with Giannis
Nah. Doc’s always been one to flap his gums without realizing he’s indirectly throwing his own guy(s) under the bus; put differently, Doc just doesn’t watch his words, period and never has.
He’s just an honest guy which is typically a good thing, maybe not in his professional line though
If he was actually “honest” he would take responsibility once in a while, instead of always making it someone else’s fault.
I think he honestly speaks what he feels, doesn’t mean he has to be right but if he really thinks one way he’ll say it. Most people struggle taking true responsibility, easier to see on the outside
That’s a cop out. If you never admit fault in anything, then you’re not being honest. I understand many struggle with it, but it still means one’s not being honest.
Too much honesty is not Doc’s issue. Never has been.
i think they were saying he is honest through his own reality (we all have our own realities)
yes, glenn rivers reality is pretty shitty
You’re both right. They are two separate things.
MANY folks hold back and don’t speak what they really think and feel.
Now, just because one speaks their mind, is honest about sharing what they think and feel doesn’t mean they are right or that they will admit they were wrong.
Some won’t say what they really think and feel… Doc does even though he’s wrong you still KNOW what he really thinks, even if he never admits he was wrong.
For most in the public’s eye, we don’t know what they really think or feel.
Leaders can’t just run their mouths. Any 20 year old first time manager learns that quickly.
Ehh I doubt it. Gannis is the type of player to say he’s way less talented then other players but his insane work ethic is what got him to where he is. He’s basically a Rock Lee type of guy.
I mean Giannis might say that publicly but surely hearing Doc say this has to make him feel some type of way, and very rightfully so imo.
Doc CONSTANTLY throws his teams and players under the bus. He has no filter when it comes to this stuff.
He constantly makes this exact line about “had I had x player healthy we would’ve never lost”. He’s said the same thing about Boston and Orlando.
He’s a grade A tool and hopefully this is his last stop.
Haha but at the same time, he is correct embiid is more talented.
Damn, I forgot he was coaching another team.. and Giannis, while I was reading that quote😳
Doc missed his calling as a mega church pastor.
‘i do love helping people….right after they tithe’
Still time
I wonder what he would be paid more as
with a beautiful voice like his it could be pretty close
Doc is so quotable.
He has an amazing throat guy after all
I wish I did lol
Your PFP is an amazing throat guy
I wonder how long doc is gonna keep his bucks tenure after that statement and his coaching quality this year
Doc usually seems to know when he’s about to get canned
I just don’t understand why he keeps getting hired. His only accomplishment is winning with a super team 18 years ago.
Doc didn’t even understand how he got the Bucks job which makes it funnier
It’s like when Detroit hired Monty Williams and he got himself fired, sometimes teams (owners, FO, players) are dumb just like everyone else.
Despite what happened Kicking Adrian was their downfall. It made no sense firing him out the team.
He’s a good hang for rich guys that own teams. He loves to cut it up on the golf course and that’s really impressive to some of these guys.
In our case the Griffin disaster made us shit our pants about hiring unproven coaches so we grabbed the first available coach with some pedigree. Even he thought his career was over before that. Dumb move because he sucks, but the logic was there.
it’s never this guy’s fault
As a Sixers fan it is true, though Rivers is being a jerk saying that.
just like JJ Redick
And Doc Rivers is probably the least talented coach Embiid has ever had
I find it fucking crazy that apparently he got the nickname from Dr. J.
Like, I need confirmation from Julius Erving, cause Glenn’s story of him playing Dr. J as a rookie and him gifting the nickname to him doesn’t make any sense. He wasn’t even particularly good against the Sixers that season. It would be like if Brandin Podziemski told everyone that the first time he played LeBron, LeBron told him that he was The King now, and everyone just rolled with that.
For like 20 years, our play-by-play announcer refused to call Doc Rivers by “Doc.” Always called him Glenn because Dr. J was the “true doc” lol. Very petty.
thatd be Nick Nurse tbh
Nah bro nurse is a solid coach. The only thing he does that’s questionable is playing Maxey so many minutes
If he didn’t play Maxey do many minutes we’d lose every game lol
Saying embiid is the most talented player you ever watched with giannis on your team. Yeah hes GONE.
You all are losing your mind over this. They are playing Embiid. Doc was paying a compliment to a great player. If I bite into a slice of pizza and declare it is the best pizza I have ever had, does that mean it is the best pizza I have ever had or does it mean it’s really good pizza that is relevant at this exact moment.
i wouldn’t say it if i’m eating with my friend whose one of the best pizzaiolos in the world
If you’re an executive at a pizza company, and you say publicly that some other pizza you once had was the best ever, then some people might raise an eyebrow
Giannis, Garnett, Harden
I see no lie tbh
I mean Doc is telling the truth. Giannis is obviously better but Joel is definitely more talented
What about Kawhi? CP3? KG? Harden?
Yeah Embiid is definitely more talented than them. Kawhi and Harden are better players but Embiid is more talented
What do you mean by talented? Like more naturally/ physically gifted? Because even then I’m not sure I would take Embiid over KG.
Talent usually refers to skill, not physical ability. So, no
Well in that case Embiid is definitely not more skilled than the guys I listed. CP3 is one of the most skilled players in NBA history.
But it’s all on a scale bc he’s a 7 footer. The guy after his mvp season was averaging more points than minutes, while being a defensive anchor.
why is Giannis obviously better if Embiid is more talented?
Because Embiid is hurt half of his whole career and it has to be a mental thing because he doesnt show up in the biggest spots. He chokes
The mental and physical endurance are a big parts of the gap between Embiid’s potential and his reality.
Injuries/availability aside, Embiid sulks and runs out of gas. I love the guy but he hasn’t been able to keep the same gear through an entire game in a while for either reason.
Maybe Doc Rivers just doesn’t like All-Time Power Forwards.
Fumbled Tim Duncan, Dissed Giannis, Dissed Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
AKA the guy who gave Doc his only ring.
Doc STOP throwing players under the bus challenge: impossible edition
He got the 2-for-1 with this
The most unqualified doctor on the planet
He’s a quack
Oz erasure
Can this guy please shut the fuck up.
Man Doc you just can’t catch a break can you?
Giannis stays underrated
Well Doc, you’re once again wrong
idk prime embiid to me when he was healthy more talented than Giannis
Prime Embiid was the greatest player ever and it sucks that he always got injured
Prime Embiid choked with Harden in 2023. Then they ran harden out of town so that was their last shot. Sucks that they had Doc Rivers coaching too. Everyone knew they were losing that game 7
Embiid was all around but giannis is just completely unstoppable and doesnt need to flop to do it
Prime Embiid was also completely unstoppable and could score from all 3 levels efficiently. Offensively when he was on and healthy, there was nobody more dominant and unstoppable in the game.
Yes embiid was definitely unstoppable in the playoffs
As opposed to Giannis’ illustrious playoff career?
No way you thought you cooked with this. Giannis has done more in one Finals game than Embiid has ever.
Yes, actually. Stack them side by side and see who’s done better, it’s not a contest.
Giannis’ finals series was approximately 10x than any series Embiid has played
He has a ring are you serious rn, some all time greats didnt sniff one.
He’s got a ring against the worst team to come out of the west in the past 25 years. The only one that’s worth less is jokics against the heat. Every playoff appearance for the bucks since has been a complete and utter humiliation.
Dropped 50 in the finals im not tryna hear all that. His individual performance every playoffs has been masterclass regardless of his teamates performance.
There’s a regular season too….but anyway when he was actually healthy yes he was dominant and unstoppable but he was rarely ever fully healthy. I think he only ever played one playoffs healthy his entire career. Yes I know “availability is the best ability” and all that jazz but talking purely talent at prime? Embiid is in an upper echelon. Incredible post footwork and finishing, dangerous slasher, elite mid-range, good 3 point shooter, great handles for a big man and we haven’t even talked about his defense yet.
Def not lol. Joel one of the most offensively gifted players ever regardless of position. A true 3 level scorer with every single move in the repertoire.
Yet still got clamped by over the hill Al Horford every playoffs
Giannis is the better player but Joel is more talented. If you disagree with that you just dont know ball
That is not a distinction. Talent is the ability to be better. Thus, the better player is always the more talented.
Nah there’s a distinction, talent is a natural aptitude. Being better encompasses additional stuff like work ethic, health, attitude etc
You just made up your own definition for “talent”
He knows he’s gone the minute they trade giannis
This guy must have his secret twin do his interviews for him
[ Removed by Reddit ]
Kawhi is better but Embiid is special too.
Doc has coached so many great talents.
Absolutely insane for doc to say this but I don’t think it’s really a bad take embiid was/is pretty incredible.
Current Giannis and championship KG wondering what the hell is going on here
Glenn will be an amazing coach for the Knicks.
Kevin Garnett?
2003 T-Mac was pretty damn good too.
Victim game on point: damn, think about that, you’re the most talented player in the world, biggest game of your life, season on the line, and you can’t play. Tragic. And then think about how much more difficult it must be to coach that team.
So, he is calling Embiid most talented among Embiid, Kawhi, and Giannis. I wouldn’t agree with that, I think Kawhi is the most talented among that group. But he is entitled to his opinion.
Not great but talented yes it’s Embiid! Footwork, handle, inside, middy, 3 ball, FT merchant and DPOY candidate in his prime as 7 foot 300 plus man is crazy and unheard of.
I don’t know if FT merchant is a good thing. I would argue that being a FT merchant in the regular season has contributed to his lack of success in the playoffs against good teams. Anyway, every thing you mentioned in your comment applies to Kawhi in terms of talents. In fact, his 3 ball and handle were/are way better than Embiid. Finally, he has delivered in the playoffs which I think puts him over Embiid.
You’re talking results not talent!!! Kawhi would be greater but he isn’t more talented than Embiid. Embiid was a defensive anchor and his footwork ,inside game and handles are better than Kawhi. Again all this at 7 foot 300 plus that’s talent. Kawhi is fundamentally sound and yes he’s talented but a lot of it is great fundamentals and hard work.
Players get results by pitting their talents against opponents talents. Playoffs are when the most talented players do that against each in the high leverage situations. Over a large sample size, if you are highly talented you achieve good results in the playoffs. Simple as that. Also, being 7 foot 300 plus is not a talent, its a physical attribute.
Not true the NBA is team sport Tracy McGrady is one the most talented players ever and had no playoff success. Theres plenty examples of talent not winning because there’s other variables like fundamentals, hard work etc.
I am not talking about winning. I am talking about the player’s individual performance. Go look at Embiid performances in any second round playoff series he has played and find me one example where he hasn’t performed well below his regular season performance.
Yes talent doesn’t always equal performance is what I’m telling you. Vince Carter is a top 5 talent ever but at times it didn’t seem like he played hard or had that “dog” in him and somewhat underachieved at times. Again you’re not talking about talent Giannis or Kawhi aren’t as talented as Embiid and it’s really not even a debate tbh.
Yes, talent doesn’t always have equal performance but it has have at least some performance otherwise its not a great talent is what I am saying. If you are always under delivering in the playoffs, its because you are not that great a talent. I bet if I look through Vince Carter or Tracy Mcgrady’s playoff performances in later playoff rounds, I will find examples of great playoff series performances.
There are no later Tracy McGrady series lmao he never made it out the second round as a star similar to……..Embiid! lol That’s all I got we’ll agree to disagree have a good one
Have you seen prime Embiid? He outclassed Jokic and won MVP and was literally on track to go back to back. It’s sad we didn’t get to see him consistently healthy
There’s a guy he currently coaches right now who actually went back to back. It’s arguable for sure but come on, you can’t say that shit when you’re still coaching an all-timer.
Have you seen prime Kawhi? He has delivered under pressure in the playoff environment instead of choking.
Yeah I’ve seen him. Throwing himself to the floor
Ah, so you did see one of the most elite 2 way players of the last decade. That’s good
Not to mention Pierce and Garnett in Boston
Paul Pierce??? ain’t no way
staying healthy is a talent
Doc is a better coach than NN. This team would be number one in the east with him. He just needed an elite assistants for in game management during playoffs