ESPN’s Shams Charania slams Bucks for questioning ‘accurate reports’

ESPN insider Shams Charania dropped a lengthy report last week describing a “fractured relationship” between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

Then came the pushback.

At the time, Bucks coach Doc Rivers didn’t hold back, taking aim at Charania during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back.

“We have a great relationship,” Rivers said of Antetokounmpo. “Shams wrote an article that was so inaccurate… I was laughing.”

Rivers pointed to a heated locker room moment following a blown 20-point lead to the Bulls, chalking it up to standard NBA frustration.

“That’s what happens in a locker room,” Rivers said, even joking, “Where’s Woj? I miss Woj so much,” referencing former ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Fast forward to Monday, and things shifted. Rivers stepped down as Bucks coach. And not long after, Charania had his say.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Charania didn’t exactly dial it down.

“If they spent as much time dealing with their own internal dynamics as they do responding to accurate reports,” he said, “they wouldn’t be in the mess that they’re in right now.”

He didn’t stop there.

Charania compared the current state of the Bucks to the unraveling of Fyre Festival, suggesting the organization is now in “cover-up” mode.

Meanwhile, the Giannis situation remains front and center.

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo believed he was healthy enough to return from his left knee injury and made that known to both the NBA and NBPA. His understanding was that upper management made the call to keep him sidelined.

The league is still looking into it. 

All of it comes after a 32-50 finish in Milwaukee. Not exactly what anyone had in mind. And now, the noise is only getting louder.