When the Milwaukee Bucks hired Doc Rivers in the middle of the 2023-24 NBA season to be the team’s head coach, more than a few eyebrows were raised. First, under Adrian Griffin, the Bucks have played well, all things considered. Rivers also had a reputation as an underdog.
Rivers still has a lot to prove to the team, fans and pundits as Bucks head coach.
In a recent ranking of NBA coaches entering the 2024-25 NBA season: Sam Quinn from CBS Sports Rivers ranks only 22nd.
Doc Rivers had Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. He had Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He had Joel Embiid and James Harden. He did not reach the conference finals with any of them. A lot of time has passed since 2008. His players clearly enjoy playing for him, and he is probably the best job interviewer among current coaches. The owners love it. That’s probably how he gets those paying jobs. But he keeps blowing leads in the playoffs by over-relying on big-name veterans, grabbing offensive rebounds and making predictable offenses. The hiring of Doc Rivers looks better in the press release than the hiring of Doc Rivers actually works on the court.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers feels pressure to perform well in the 2024-25 season
Rivers is a one-time NBA champion and a former NBA Coach of the Year, but both of those achievements came in the same decade that saw the birth of Milwaukee rookie guard AJ Johnson.
With a full offseason with the Bucks at his disposal and a healthier group of players under his care, Rivers will look to change the minds of his doubters during the 2024-25 NBA season.
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