Austin Rivers recalls Doc Rivers’ lesson after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dunk

Former NBA guard Austin Rivers revisited the formative class from his father, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Riverswhile thinking about a moment late in the game with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Speaking on the latest episode of Unready with Austin Rivers, Rivers recalled how Antetokounmpo’s windmill dunk in the final seconds of the game sparked a larger conversation about toughness, respect and the NBA’s long-debated unwritten rules.

Rivers described the sequence that unfolded afterward Milwaukee led 110–103 late in the game when Antetokounmpo attacked the rim for an emphatic dunk, not for pulling the ball. The moment sparked a reaction that reminded Rivers of his playing days and a heated exchange in the locker room with his father.

“My dad, you know the coaches are always the last ones in the locker room because they always come in and let us know how they feel our game went, and my dad looked at me and said ‘what did you just tell him?’ I said, ‘I said b—h move.’ to shoot with 10 seconds left or 15 seconds left. He said, ‘where was the toughness in the third quarter? Second quarter?’ And I just shrugged my shoulders and went to the dressing room. He’s like, ‘I don’t want to hear that s—t.’ And after that, I never did that again in my life.”

Rivers said the message stayed with him throughout his career, changing the way he looked at late-game situations regardless of the score.

“Even if we were down 20 and somebody went and tried to dunk, I’d just say, ‘Listen, man. Put the icing on the cake. What the hell are you going to do? Write it down.’

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dunk against the Bulls highlights the NBA’s fading unwritten rules

He explained that his perspective has evolved as the league has changed, especially with new incentives tied to point differential.

“That’s my thing. I don’t like it. Now I realize there’s disrespect in that. But now that the lines are blurred — remember that points count in the NBA Cup so every point counts. So then guys would score with 10 seconds left and the other team was mad. They’re like, ‘Oh no, let’s get to the Cup.’ to call. Until the game is over, play. If you lose 10. I don’t like these unwritten rules, I don’t want to listen to all that hard stuff.”

Rivers recalled a similar incident earlier in his career when Mirza Teletovic finished aggressively late in a game when Rivers was with the Los Angeles Clippers and Teletovic was with the Phoenix Suns. Rivers said he confronted Teletovic on the court, only to be challenged by his father.

After the game, Doc Rivers directly addressed the situation and sided with Teletovic, reinforcing the same principle he later applied to Antetokounmpo’s game.

The lesson remains relevant as Milwaukee looks to build momentum. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks (14-19) will look to extend their current winning streak to three games when they host the Washington Wizards (7-24) on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday night at 8:00 PM ET.