Giannis Antetokounmpo makes clear he wants to 'f---ing play' as feud erupts over injury status

He insisted he was "available to play."

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo's comments after the team's 133-101 loss to the Celtics.

"The tough part about all this is that I'm in the middle and I have nothing to do with it," Rivers said. "Coaches don't decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front. And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this, I will tell you that, but I don't want to get too involved in it."

Rivers added that he didn't like that the feud had gone "public."

"This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn't matter. But this should not be public, and I don't like that."

The situation also drew the attention of the National Basketball Players Association last month.

Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant players in the league in recent years and was the main reason why the Bucks were able to win a championship in 2021.

"The Greek Freak's" name has also been mentioned in trade rumors over the last year. The team has ultimately kept him and he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October.

He could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season if the team chooses not to re-sign him, or the Bucks could end up trading him after all.

Antetokounmpo made clear he was unsure where his relationship with the franchise goes from here.

"We've got to go to couples therapy."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.