Kidd on benching Antetokounmpo: 'Change is always healthy ... it was my decision'

A night after benching Giannis Antetokounmpo without explanation, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd provided one on Thursday.

"Change is always healthy," Kidd told reporters about Antetokounmpo logging a DNP-CD in Wednesday's thrilling loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I thought the guys who played yesterday played at a very high level, had a chance to win."

Antetokounmpo had suited up for the Bucks' first 77 games of the season, starting 67 of them and logging over 31 minutes per contest heading into Wednesday.

Kidd still wouldn't disclose whether "The Greek Freak" sat for rest or disciplinary reasons, but Antetokounmpo said after the game that he had not been told he would sit.

"Giannis is a piece of the puzzle for us," Kidd said. "Understanding if you want to rest guys, you have that luxury. You don't have to disclose it. If it's disciplinary reasons, you don't have to disclose it."

For his part, the Bucks' young phenom wasn't going to publicly question his coach's decision.

"It was last night," Antetokounmpo said. "It's all about tomorrow and the next day. Hopefully he's trying to motivate me. Whatever he's trying to do, he's doing the right thing."

After finishing with the worst record in the league last season, the Bucks have been one of the most improved teams in Kidd's first year on the job in Milwaukee. The team is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot and appears headed for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, despite losing rookie standout Jabari Parker to a torn ACL in December.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks on a true shooting percentage of 55.7 in his sophomore season.