After a worrying start to the 2024-25 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks look like they might be back on track, riding a four-game hot streak that has moved them into fifth in the East.
Plenty of this is due to the play of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose play to start the year could see him contend for a third trophy, as well as a resurgence from their All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who they traded for at the beginning of last season.
But many fans online have also pointed towards what could be a hilarious coincidence, or a sign from the universe, stemming from a viral post on X, formerly Twitter, from well-known troll account NBA Centel.
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Did viral fake X post fix Milwaukee Bucks season?
On November 12, infamous troll X account @NBACentel tweeted a fake report from real NBA insider Chris Hayne, stating that "Doc Rivers have informed the Bucks he’ll start taking coaching ‘seriously’ now".
Doc Rivers have informed the Bucks he’ll start taking coaching ‘seriously’ now, per @ChrisBHayne pic.twitter.com/wV7qRHsLn8
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) November 11, 2024
At the time of posting, the Bucks' record was 2-8, wallowing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference in what was an incredibly disappointing start to the year.
The post, which has now been viewed 8.7 million times, was made following a Milwaukee loss to the Boston Celtics, that many considered a worrying sign for their title hopes.
But since the post was made, the Bucks have gone on an impressive run, winning six of their last seven games, moving them to 8-9 on the season and into fifth spot in their conference.
Despite the drastic turnaround, head coach Doc Rivers said that the team hasn't fundamentally changed, saying that they have reached the level he expected after a close win over the Hornets.
"I feel the same," Rivers said.
"I never thought we were not going to be there, honestly I knew we were going to turn a corner at some point.
"We earned the record early, we didn’t play well, we had some injuries and had a lot of stuff going on.
"We were getting good shots early and guys weren’t making them, I never thought that this would not happen, I was pretty confident this team would get to playing like this, I’m glad we’re doing it now, and I want to keep it going."
The Bucks now have two days to recover, before an NBA Cup grudge match against long-term Eastern Conference rivals the Miami Heat.
