Did Giannis actually usurp Doc Rivers as head coach against the Hornets?

With the game on the line, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo called audibly on a play designed by the head coach Doc Riverswhich led to the winning shot by Kevin Porter Jr. in a 122-121 win against the Charlotte Hornets. Antetokounmpo connected with Porter Jr. for the game winner — alley-oop lob with 4.7 seconds left.

Discovered by Porter Jr how it all played out between Rivers and Antetokounmpo during a Bucks timeout with just 8.8 seconds left, he said, per Eric Nehm of the Athletics.

“While he was coming up with something, and Giannis had a feeling they were changing a lot, so he gave us that play, basically, and we ran it,” Porter Jr. said.

Antetokounmpo says this isn’t the first time this has happened.

“I’ve been in this situation before — I think, like, a month and a half ago,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “When I was (in) the elbow, playing ISO for the game against Miles Bridges, and I hit the shot. And then when I shot it, I looked to my left; there was a guy in the corner, and I thought to myself, ‘Why didn’t I go (dribble) and just let the play go?’ In short, we won that game in overtime.”

Giannis knew it would be a favorable look for Porter Jr. and he turned out to be right, as it left him wide open for a lob.

“I knew I was going to get elbowed, and I knew it was going to be one side, me and (Porter),” Antetokounmpo said. “I know (Porter) likes to go left. Well, I told him before the game, I said, ‘Hey, you can just go down, come back to the right, get the ball and just throw it to the rim. I’m going to be wide open.’ And he just did what I told him, and I was wide open.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a double-double (30 points, 10 rebounds) on 11-of-18 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He finished with five assists and one steal. Porter Jr. added 10 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and two steals.

How Giannis Antetokounmpo called his Bucks teammates

Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo called out the effort of his teammates recently, especially with teammates making plays. Antetokounmpo expressed his frustration with all the players not always on the same page he said, as Erik Nehm of Athletic noted.

“Sometimes it’s just hard when some people try to do the right thing and other people don’t try to make plays. It can be disheartening at times,” Antetokounmpo said, via Eric Nemo of the Athletics. “I’ve been part of teams, really good teams, where two, three, four guys try to do the right thing, and they do it, I think, and drag everybody else along.”

“And I’ve been on teams where two, three guys are trying to do the right thing, and three, four guys aren’t trying to do the right thing, and it’s pulling the team in the wrong direction.”

The Bucks have won three of their last four games and will face the Kings on the road on Sunday.