The Milwaukee Bucks have officially appointed Doc Rivers as their new head coach. Rivers' three-and-a-half-year contract with the Bucks is valued at nearly $40 million. He will make his coaching debut for the Bucks in their game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday, January 29.
“Doc is a proven, extraordinary leader and communicator during his renowned NBA coaching career,” said Jon Horst, general manager of the Bucks. “As a championship coach, he’s widely respected as an established innovator, and the right coach to lead our experienced and talented team."
The Bucks highlighted Rivers' impressive NBA coaching career in their official statement. With 24 seasons as a head coach, he has led his teams to the playoffs 19 times, accumulating 1,097 wins. Rivers has reached the NBA Finals twice and was pivotal in the Boston Celtics' 2008 NBA Championship victory.
“Doc’s extensive coaching experience and winning leadership qualities make him the ideal choice to maximize our potential,” Bucks co-owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan said. “We’re excited to bring Doc to Milwaukee.”
Taking Griffin’s place
On Tuesday, the Bucks dismissed Adrian Griffin, despite his success in leading the team to a 30-13 record this season. Since his exit, Joe Prunty, a seasoned assistant, has stepped in as interim head coach, guiding the team through two matches with one win and one loss. Prunty's final game as interim coach will be against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday before Rivers takes over.
At first glance, the Bucks' decision to fire Griffin might be surprising. However, there had always been tension between the head coach and the team. One incident proving this was when former assistant coach Terry Stotts decided to quit after Griffin yelled at him in public in October.
Reportedly, Griffin even had a confrontation with Bobby Portis, a veteran forward on the Bucks, during the match with the Indiana Pacers. Griffin also admitted that he had planned to use a more aggressive scheme before he was talked out of it. In the end, the Bucks believed Griffin was not the right man to lead the team as the head coach.
Challenging task ahead
Rivers faces a challenging task in succeeding Griffin at the Bucks. The team, known for its strong offense, ranks second in offensive power but 20th in defense.
As a coach, Rivers has always asked his teams to prioritize defense over offensive rebounding. If he can instill this principle in the Bucks, it will instantly improve the team's defensive capability. However, the team needs more perimeter and wing defenders.
Rivers can also leverage the potential of the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard duo. The expectation of them executing a pick-and-roll strategy has been unfulfilled, partly due to Antetokounmpo's hesitation to be the roll man. Previously as an ESPN commentator, Rivers advocated for this strategy and now must persuade both players to adopt it.
Additionally, Rivers confronts the challenge of taking over during the playoffs, with the Bucks aiming for a championship. While a midseason coaching change is complex, it's not an insurmountable obstacle for championship aspirations, as demonstrated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
However, no team has ever clinched the title after appointing a new coach from outside the organization during the season. The Bucks, with their faith in Rivers, are hopeful he can set this unprecedented record.