In a surprising turn of events, the Milwaukee Bucks made waves in the NBA community by parting ways with first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, despite the team boasting an impressive 30-13 record, securing the second-best spot in the Eastern Conference. However, Milwaukee wasted no time in securing a seasoned replacement, bringing in veteran head coach Doc Rivers to take over midseason. The move comes after the Bucks traded three first-round picks to pair superstar Damian Lillard with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, heightening expectations for a championship run.
The Rivers hire injects experience and pedigree into the Bucks’ coaching staff, with the veteran coach boasting 23 years of coaching expertise, over 1,000 career wins, and an NBA title in 2008 with the Boston Celtics. Despite his success, Rivers carries the weight of historic playoff shortcomings, including blowing three 3-1 series leads and five 3-2 series leads as a head coach, along with a 16-34 record when having a chance to close out a playoff series.
Let’s delve into Doc Rivers’ coaching timeline to understand his journey and assess whether he can guide the Milwaukee Bucks to NBA Finals glory.
Doc Rivers Coaching Timeline:
- Orlando Magic (1999-2003): Rivers’ coaching career kicked off with the Orlando Magic in 1999. In his inaugural season, he led an underdog Magic squad to a surprising 41-41 record, earning him the Coach of the Year honors in 2000. Despite consistent regular-season success, Rivers’ Magic faced playoff challenges, most notably blowing a 3-1 lead to the Pistons in 2003. After a slow start in the 2003-04 season, Rivers was let go.
- Boston Celtics (2004-2013): Rivers took over the Boston Celtics in 2004, and after a challenging start, the team underwent a transformative period, acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to form a formidable “Big 3” alongside Paul Pierce. In the 2007-08 season, Rivers led the Celtics to a remarkable 66-16 record and secured an NBA championship. Despite another Finals appearance in 2010, the Celtics faced challenges, notably blowing a 3-2 series lead in 2012.
- LA Clippers (2013-2020): Traded to the LA Clippers in 2013, Rivers inherited a talented roster featuring Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. Despite achieving a franchise-record 57 wins in his first year, the Clippers faced playoff disappointments, notably blowing two 3-1 series leads in the Western Conference Semifinals. Rivers concluded his Clippers tenure with a 356-208 regular-season record and six playoff appearances.
- Philadelphia 76ers (2020-2023): Rivers took on the challenge of coaching the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020, aiming to propel the team past the Eastern Conference Semifinals hurdle. Despite making the playoffs in all three seasons under Rivers, the 76ers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals each year. Following a disappointing loss in Game 7 of the East Semis in 2023, Rivers was relieved of his duties by the 76ers.
Doc Rivers’ coaching journey has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. As he steps into the role of head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks midseason, the NBA community watches with anticipation. Will Rivers be the guiding force to propel the Bucks to an NBA title, or will historic playoff challenges persist? Only time will tell as the Bucks embark on a new chapter under the seasoned leadership of Doc Rivers.
