*This content was translated by AI.
Former coach Doc Rivers. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
Coach Doc Rivers (left) giving tactical instructions to Giannis. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
The fate of a once-celebrated “master coach” who dominated the NBA (US professional basketball) is grim. Doc Rivers (65), former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who was fired due to constant conflicts with the team and poor performance, has effectively stepped away from the front lines, declaring a forced retirement.
According to multiple US media outlets, including MassLive, reporting on the 20th (Korean time), former coach Rivers has declared he will end his coaching career. Following Milwaukee’s decision on the 14th to terminate Rivers’ contract, which was guaranteed through the 2026–2027 season, he ultimately announced his retirement after much deliberation. However, another US media outlet, Clutch Points, reported on the 21st that Milwaukee continues to persuade Rivers to take on an advisory role within the organization.
In fact, Rivers’ dismissal was foreseeable. On the 13th, Milwaukee concluded its regular season with a decisive 106–126 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks’ final record this season was 32 wins and 50 losses, with a winning percentage of just 0.390, falling short of the 40th% mark. Naturally, they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
When Rivers was initially brought in as a “firefighter” in January 2024, expectations for him were high. However, during his tenure in Milwaukee, he left behind a dismal record of 97 wins and 103 losses, and in both playoff appearances, the team was eliminated in the first round, rendering the label “competitor” meaningless.
More serious than mere poor performance was the “autocratic leadership” within the locker room. According to local reports, Rivers chose to tear players down rather than encourage them. Notably, it was revealed that he forced Kyle Kuzma (31) to watch a video of his own mistakes in front of teammates, hurling remarks bordering on personal insults, which caused shock.
The conflict with team cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo (32) proved to be the final blow. Their relationship, initially sparked by disagreements over trade policies, escalated into a direct confrontation over the timing of Giannis’ return from injury in the latter part of the season, leading to a complete breakdown. ESPN reporter Shams Charania revealed that “early in April, Rivers told players, ‘Go Google my career. I’ve always led weak teams to the championship,’ displaying an arrogant attitude.” This became the catalyst that completely eroded the players’ trust.
Rivers, who previously coached the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers, is a Hall of Fame inductee, ranking sixth all-time in regular-season wins and fourth in playoff wins. However, reactions from local fans and experts who have followed this situation have been cold. As news of his dismissal spread, multiple reporters made pointed remarks. US basketball writer Adam Schefter stated, “Rivers has been the most overrated coach in North American professional sports over the past 40 years. He doesn’t even deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame. I know from experience.”
John Heyman of the New York Post, who primarily covers Major League Baseball, also downplayed Rivers, saying, “He may seem like a good person, but he was a great flatterer. He has always secured good jobs by relying solely on his eloquence. It’s fortunate that his true nature is now known.”
Milwaukee, which possessed an “ace” in Antetokounmpo yet fell to the status of “playoff spectators,” now faces the task of healing the wounds left by Rivers. Reports indicate that the team has already made contact with Taylor Jenkins (42), who served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from June 2019 to March 2025.
Once a “master coach” who wore a championship ring with Boston in 2008 and dominated the league, Doc Rivers now departs leaving behind only the stigma of “a textbook case of overrating” instead of the title “legend,” due to his insults toward players, clashes with star players, and his worst-ever record.
Taylor Jenkins, former head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
Coach Doc Rivers. /AFPBBNews=NEWS1
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*This content was translated by AI.