Doc Rivers, the former coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, has agreed to become the next coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources have confirmed. The decision comes after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin, who had only been in the position for 43 games. Despite having the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, the organization believed they could find a better coach who would give them a stronger chance at competing for a championship.
Rivers, an ESPN NBA analyst, emerged as the top target for the Bucks immediately after Griffin’s dismissal. Negotiations between Rivers and the team went on late into Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before an agreement was reached. General manager Jon Horst played a crucial role in persuading Rivers to take the job and pursue his second NBA title as a coach.
The Bucks have high hopes for Rivers, as they believe his history of coaching star tandems will help maximize the potential of their own star players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Additionally, Rivers has a personal connection to Milwaukee, having been an All-American guard for Marquette in the early 1980s.
Rivers’ coaching career has been impressive, with 16 straight winning seasons since winning the NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. His 1,097 regular-season victories rank ninth in NBA history, and he has accumulated 111 playoff victories, placing him fourth all time. However, Rivers does have some obstacles to overcome, including a record of 10 Game 7 losses in his career and a streak of nine straight losses in games with a chance to reach the conference finals.
Despite these challenges, Rivers has the opportunity to make a significant impact on the Bucks’ defense and help them maintain their pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. After being dismissed by the 76ers at the end of last season, Rivers was a runner-up for the Phoenix Suns’ coaching job before accepting an analyst role on ESPN and ABC’s NBA game coverage.
Adrian Griffin, the former coach of the Bucks, had a respectable record of 30-13 (.698). However, the team’s defensive efficiency dropped significantly from fourth last season to 22nd under his leadership. The loss of All-Star guard Jrue Holiday may have contributed to this decline. While Horst believed Griffin had the potential to become a good NBA head coach, he lost confidence in his ability to do so within the timeframe of the Bucks’ championship aspirations.
With Doc Rivers now at the helm, the Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to elevate their performance and make a strong push for a championship title. Rivers’ experience, track record, and ability to coach star players make him an ideal candidate for the job. Only time will tell if he can lead the Bucks to success and help them achieve their ultimate goal.
