Doc Rivers confused by referees after Luka Doncic controversy
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers expressed clear frustration with the trial following a controversial streak involving Luka Dončić in a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Rivers asked why defense attorneys they have no more space to contest shots after Doncic made contact in the game Bucks believed it should have been ruled assault offense.
Rivers said he disagreed with the decision. He added that the explanation he received about the natural initiation of the shooting did not make sense to him. He felt that Doncic initiated the contact with a forward kick. Rivers joked that given the way the rules are interpreted, he could have averaged eight points per game during his own playing career.
“I thought the contact was Luke’s kicking leg. If you can’t challenge the shot and it’s your natural rhythm to kick, I don’t know how you guard anybody. I could have scored 8 points in a game with these rules… 10 points.”
– Doc Rivers
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 16, 2025
The loss ended a rough stretch for Milwaukee. The Bucks played five games in eight days and fell to 8 and 6 after the Lakers built a 31-point halftime lead behind another dominant Doncic. He finished with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his strong start with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as he approaches the all-time thirty-five game mark in league history.
Bucks don’t accept fatigue as an excuse
However, Antetokounmpo dismissed the notion that fatigue contributed to the loss. He said every team faces the same scheduling challenges and insisted the Bucks needed to prepare better for back-to-back games. He also noted that the Lakers are playing under similar circumstances.
Milwaukee continues to look for stability in its rotation. Rivers recently inserted Kyle Kuzma into the starting lineup in an effort to boost scoring on the wing. Kuzma scored a season-high 29 points in the win over Charlotte, but then beat the Lakers by one point. His inconsistency and continued struggles from deep have kept the pressure on the Bucks as they deal with injuries and a thin group of backup forwards.
Rivers admitted that Kuzma was more effective on the bench last season. However, he said the team may have to remain flexible with their match-based squads. With a challenging slate of Eastern Conference contenders, the Bucks will need more consistent performances to regain momentum in a crowded early season race.
2025-11-16 16:03:00
