As CNN Sports first reported, the Milwaukee Bucks have hired Doc Rivers as their next head coach, only hours after firing Adrian Griffin. Rivers brings a wealth of experience to the job and will hope to bring a championship to the community of Milwaukee.
BREAKING: Bucks are hiring Doc Rivers as HC, per @cnnsport pic.twitter.com/3e4NibmG55
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2024
Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Eric Nehm of The Athletic wrote an article shortly after Griffin’s departure was announced, outlining why he was fired. “The decision was borne out of months of underwhelming play, with internal concerns growing about the severe decline of their once-elite defense, the flawed use of newcomer Damian Lillard alongside franchise centerpiece Giannis Antetokounmpo and a widespread fear that this group, which was widely expected to contend for a title, was likely to fall short if they stood pat.”
Damian Lillard reportedly had a hard time adjusting to Milwaukee’s offensive scheme, per @TheAthletic
“Along the way, league sources say, Lillard has spent much of this season struggling with the way the Bucks function on the offensive end. While he had remained patient with… pic.twitter.com/9kUhta05BE
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 23, 2024
It was later reported that Rivers “began to serve as an informal assistant to Griffin at the behest of the Bucks” in May of 2023.
Doc Rivers as a Player
Before becoming a coach, Rivers played in the NBA for 13 seasons. The Atlanta Hawks selected him in the second round of the 1983 draft. Rivers spent eight years in Atlanta and was named to the All-Star squad in 1988. He later played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the New York Knicks, and the San Antonio Spurs. He retired in 1996, finishing with career averages of 10.9 points, 5.7 assists, and three rebounds per game
Doc Rivers as a Coach
His coaching career began in 1999 with the Orlando Magic. Rivers won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in Orlando, bringing the team to ninth place in the Eastern Conference despite expectations that they would finish last. Orlando fired Rivers in 2003.
After a year in the booth, Rivers returned to coaching in 2004, this time with the Boston Celtics. It was here that Rivers became one of the most well-known figures in coaching history. The Celtics won the 2008 NBA Finals over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston returned to the Finals in 2010. However, Bryant’s Lakers were able to exact revenge.
In 2013, Rivers became one of the few NBA coaches in history to be traded. After joining the Los Angeles Clippers, Rivers wasted no time. In his debut season, the Clippers set a franchise record by winning 57 games. Despite continuous regular-season success in Los Angeles, Rivers’ tenure will be known for the team’s failure to go beyond the second round of the playoffs.
