Doc Rivers has reportedly agreed to become the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks following Adrian Griffin's dismissal. According to multiple sources, including ESPN and CNN, Rivers and the Bucks had reached an agreement in principle and will announce the deal once it becomes official.
After 43 games since June 2023, the Bucks fired Griffin earlier on Tuesday. Bucks general manager Jon Horst said that Griffin’s firing was a “difficult decision to make during the season,” but also that the team was “working immediately” to hire their next head coach.
Rivers last coached in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, where he led them to a 50-22 record before being let go after their third consecutive second-round playoff exit.
Before his tenure in Philadelphia, Rivers spent time as head coach with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic.
The 62-year-old coach brings a wealth of experience to the table, having started his NBA head coaching career back in 1999. Over his career, Rivers has amassed 1,097 wins in the regular season and 111 wins in the playoffs.
ESPN, where Rivers has worked as an NBA analyst this season, released a statement on social media confirming that Rivers is poised to take a coaching position.
"We wish Doc well and we look forward to documenting the next chapter of his coaching career," said David Roberts, ESPN’s head of event and studio production.
Bucks’ mission
With his return to Milwaukee, the Bucks hope Rivers can lead the team back to the championship after their disappointing performance this season. The Bucks are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 31-13, but they have struggled defensively and lacked consistency throughout the year.
Milwaukee’s offense wasn’t struggling, however. The team went 30–13 under Griffin and is the second best in the Eastern Conference and the league in terms of offensive rating.
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, the Bucks have dropped from having one of the best defense ratings in the league last season to becoming a middle-of-the-pack, which makes Rivers' experience with building successful defenses essential.
With teams like Boston and Philadelphia currently leading the way, Milwaukee will need to regain their form if they hope to compete for a championship.
However, with a roster full of talented players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, Rivers will have the challenge of implementing an offensive system that maximizes their skills.
Reactions to the deal
Sports analyst and former player Shaquille O’Neal commented on Rivers’ deal with the Bucks, highlighting Rivers’ previous experience in leading the Celtics to winning the NBA championship back in 2008.
“He does have championship experience. He does have experience with dealing with large-name individuals, superstars,” O’Neal when co-hosting TNT’s “Inside the NBA” Tuesday night. “For so long, he’s just been surviving off that one championship so I would like to see him get another one.”
Meanwhile, Bucks players said they were surprised by the team management’s decision to fire Griffin but ultimately trusted the decision to be in the team’s best interest.
“At the end of the day, I trust the ownership decision,” Antetokounmpo said.
Antetokounmpo expressed his belief that the front office has never steered the team wrong and that they always did whatever is best for the team. “You’ve just got to trust this is the best decision for me and the guys, and we’ve just got to go with it,” he said.