Myles Turner was unaccustomed to the lack of discipline and accountability he experienced in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Turner said on the “Game Recognize Game” podcast that now-former Bucks coach Doc Rivers refused to fine players for violations or tardiness, inspiring Giannis Antetokounmpo and others to “show up whenever he wants.”
Podcast co-host Breanna Stewart asked Turner to identify the player most likely to be late.
“Giannis. Giannis is going to show up whenever he wants, really,” Turner said. “I think that this kind of just came with the territory that — and once I saw it was going down, I was like, ‘Hey man, s—, more power to you. They ain’t going to fine you. S—, do what you do.'”
The Bucks missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Milwaukee finished 32-50 and informed Rivers last month he would not return. The franchise has weighed trading Antetokounmpo in what could be a dramatic overhaul this offseason. Ownership pointed to late June, prior to the NBA draft, as a deadline for determining whether the future of the franchise would include Antetokounmpo.
Taylor Jenkins was hired as head coach and Turner said he anticipates a different level of discipline will be part of the regime change.
Turner joined the Bucks in free agency last summer, signing a four-year, $108 million contract after a decade with the Indiana Pacers. He said punctuality was optional, and eventually he stopped monitoring the clock himself.
“Guys were an hour late to the plane,” Turner said. “It got to the point where I knew not to show up until an hour after they said the plane was taking off. It was crazy.”
