 Rivers during a Clippers/Suns game in November 2015. | |
| Milwaukee Bucks | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Head Coach |
| League: | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 13, 1961 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality |  American
|
| Coaching career | |
| Best record | 66–16 (2008–09) |
| Titles | 1 (2008) |
| Coaching career | 1999–present (25 years) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Proviso East (Maywood, Illinois) |
| College | Marquette (1980-1983) |
| NBA Draft | 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 31st overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Playing career | 1983–1996 (13 years) |
| Career history | |
|
As player: | |
| 1983–1991 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1991–1992 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1992–1994 | New York Knicks |
| 1994–1996 | San Antonio Spurs |
|
As coach: | |
| 1999–2004 | Orlando Magic |
| 2004–2013 | Boston Celtics |
| 2013–2020 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2020–2023 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2024–present | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
As player: | |
As coach: | |
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers (born October 13, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
As an NBA point guard, Rivers was known for his defense, a trait that has carried over into his coaching. He served as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers, winning the NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2008.
Rivers was widely regarded for a long time as one of the greatest coaches of all time, with him being listed to the NBA's top 15 coaches list. However, his coaching ability has recently been scrutinised due to the number of leads he has blown in the playoffs, and his apparent lack of ability to make adjustments. Additionally, players such as Glen Davis have accused Rivers of leaving crucial coaching decisions to his players.
Biography[]
Playing career[]
After representing the United States with the national team in the 1982 FIBA World Championship, in which he was selected as the tournament MVP, and graduating from Marquette University, Rivers was drafted in the second round (31st overall[1]) of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, moving into the starting lineup due to injury during his rookie season. He spent the next seven seasons as a starter in Atlanta, assisting star Dominique Wilkins as the team found great regular season success. He averaged a double-double for the 1986-87 season, scoring 12.4 points and helping out with 10.0 assists per game. Rivers later spent one year as a starter for the Los Angeles Clippers and two more for the New York Knicks, before finishing out his career as a solid bench player for the San Antonio Spurs.
Coaching career[]
Rivers began his coaching career with the Orlando Magic in 1999, where he coached for more than four NBA seasons. Rivers won the Coach of the Year award in 2000 after his first year with the Magic. That season, he led the team that was picked to finish last in the league to a near playoff berth. He made the post season in his next three years as coach, but was fired in 2003 after a disastrous start to the season. After spending a year working as a commentator for The NBA on ABC (calling the 2004 Finals with Al Michaels), he took over the Boston Celtics coaching position in 2004.
As a result of the Celtics' 109-93 victory over the New York Knicks on January 21, 2008, Rivers, as the coach of the team with the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference, earned the honor to coach the East for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.[2] On June 17, 2008, Rivers won his first NBA Championship as a head coach.[3]
Rivers would lead the Celtics to the Finals again in 2010, but this time they would lose to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 7 games.
Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20)[]
Rivers was acquired by the clippers in June of 2013, being traded for an unprotected first round pick. In his first season as their head coach, Rivers led the Clippers to a franchise-record 57 wins, garnering the 3rd seed in the Western conference. On June 16, 2014, the Clippers promoted Rivers to president of basketball operations in conjunction with his continuing head coaching duties.
Rivers would undergo some criticism for blowing multiple leads in the playoffs, although some of them were due to injuries to key players. Nonetheless, the Clippers would continue to fail to make it past the 2nd round, which was considered a disappointment to most analysts.
In 2019, the Clippers would sign free agent Kawhi Leonard and trade for star forward Paul George. These additions, when added to a deep team with excellent role players would cause the Clippers to have championship expectations in the 2019–20 NBA season. Ultimately, the Clippers were able to clinch the 2nd seed in the Western Conference, but again lost in the 2nd round to the Denver Nuggets, in a 7 game series where they blew a 3-1 lead. Rivers was blamed for not making the necessary adjustments and was ultimately let go.
Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23)[]
On October 3, 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers announced that they had hired Rivers as their head coach. The 76ers went on to secure the first seed in the Eastern Conference, and defeated the Washington Wizards in five games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost in the semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.
On May 14 2023, after failing to get past the 2nd round once again, Rivers would be fired from his position.
Milwaukee Bucks (2023–present)[]
Beginning in December 2023, Rivers began serving as an informal consultant to Milwaukee Bucks first-year coach Adrian Griffin at the team's request. On January 26, 2024, after firing Griffin after 43 games, the Bucks announced that Rivers was hired as their head coach.
Personal[]
Rivers is the nephew of former NBA player Jim Brewer. He lives in Orlando Florida with his wife Kristen Rivers and their four children.[1] His oldest son Jeremiah played basketball for Georgetown University before transferring to play for Indiana University,[4] while his daughter Callie plays volleyball for the University of Florida.[5] Rivers also has a younger son, Austin, who at 6'3" plays guard, and has verbally committed to the University of Florida men's basketball team. Austin Rivers is considered a top 10 basketball prospect in the class of 2011.[6][7] Doc Rivers is the cousin of former NBA guard Byron Irvin and former MLB outfielder Ken Singleton.[8]
Rivers was given his nickname by then-Marquette assistant coach Rick Majerus. Rivers attended a summer basketball camp wearing "Dr. J" T-shirt. Majerus immediately called him "Doc" and the players at camp followed suit. The name has stuck ever since.Template:Fact
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Doc Rivers Coaching Info at NBA.com
- databaseBasketball.com: Doc Rivers (as coach)
- databaseBasketball.com: Doc Rivers (as player)
| Boston Celtics 2007–08 season roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Gаrnett • 9 Rondo • 11 Davis • 13 Pruitt • 20 R. Allen • 28 Cassell • 34 Pierce • 41 Posey • 42 T. Allen • 43 Perkins • 44 Scalabrine • 50 House • 66 Pollard • 93 Brown • 0 Powe | ||||
| Players who left during the season | ||||
| N/A | ||||
| Head coach: Doc Rivers | ||||
| Regular Season • Playoffs • Finals | ||||
| Boston Celtics 2008–09 season roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Giddens • 5 Gаrnett • 8 Marbury • 9 Rondo • 11 Davis • 12 Moore • 13 Pruitt • 20 R. Allen • 34 Pierce • 42 T. Allen • 43 Perkins • 44 Scalabrine • 50 House • 66 Pollard • 0 Powe | ||||
| Players who left during the season | ||||
| N/A | ||||
| Head coach: Doc Rivers | ||||
| Regular Season • Playoffs • Finals | ||||
| Boston Celtics 2009–10 season roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Giddens • 5 Gаrnett • 9 Rondo • 11 Davis • 20 R. Allen • 30 Wallace • 34 Pierce • 40 Finley • 42 T. Allen • 43 Perkins • 44 Scalabrine • 52 Daniels • 60 Hudson • 84 Robinson • 94 Williams | ||||
| Players who left during the season | ||||
| N/A | ||||
| Head coach: Doc Rivers | ||||
| Regular Season • Playoffs • Finals | ||||
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Doc Rivers Coaching Info at NBA.com
- ↑ Doc Rivers to Coach East in 2008 All-Star Game, NBA.com, January 21, 2008.
- ↑ Celtics crush Lakers, 131-92, for NBA championship - The Boston Globe
- ↑ Doc Rivers' son to transfer from Georgetown
- ↑ Rivers flows through it - News - GatorSports.com
- ↑ Rivals.com Top Ten for the class of 2011
- ↑ 2011 bigs could be moving up
- ↑ InsideHoops.com - Doc Rivers