Milwaukee Bucks hire Doc Rivers as head coach

NBA champion coach Doc Rivers brings 24 seasons of experience to the Bucks, with 1,097 wins and a championship with the Celtics.

The Milwaukee Bucks have officially announced the hiring of Doc Rivers as their new head coach, making him the 18th head coach in franchise history. With 24 seasons of head coaching experience in the NBA, Rivers is a proven and extraordinary leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.

Rivers' coaching career includes stints with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, where he accumulated a total of 1,097 wins, ranking him ninth on the NBA's all-time wins list. He has an overall record of 1,097-763 (.590) and has led his teams to the playoffs in 19 of his 24 seasons as a head coach, including two trips to the NBA Finals and an NBA Championship with the Celtics in 2008. His 111 playoff wins are the fourth-most in league history.

Bucks General Manager Jon Horst expressed his confidence in Rivers, stating that he is a championship coach and an established innovator who is widely respected in the NBA. The team's owners, Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan, also expressed their excitement about bringing Rivers on board, citing his extensive coaching experience and winning leadership qualities as the ideal fit for the team.

Rivers himself expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to join the Bucks, noting that it is a great opportunity to work with a talented roster of high-character players in a first-class organization. He also mentioned his ties to Milwaukee, having learned the game of basketball at Marquette University, and expressed his excitement to get started with the team.

In addition to his coaching accolades, Rivers was named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA history in 2022 by a panel of current and former NBA head coaches. His combined 1,208 regular season and playoff wins as a head coach rank eighth on the NBA's all-time list, and he is just two wins away from passing Larry Brown for eighth on the NBA's all-time regular season wins list.

Rivers' most recent coaching role was with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he amassed a 154-82 (.653) regular season record and made the postseason in all three years of his tenure. His success with the 76ers adds to his impressive track record of playoff appearances, with 15 out of his last 16 seasons as a head coach culminating in postseason berths.

A Chicago native and graduate of Marquette University, Rivers also had a successful playing career in the NBA, playing 13 seasons with the Hawks, Clippers, Knicks, and Spurs. His number 31 jersey hangs in the rafters of Fiserv Forum, further solidifying his connection to the city of Milwaukee.

Overall, the hiring of Doc Rivers as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks represents a significant milestone for the team, as they look to capitalize on his wealth of experience and leadership qualities to maximize their potential and achieve success in the NBA.