Report: Bucks hiring Doc Rivers to replace Griffin
Doc Rivers has agreed to become the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Rivers' reported hiring comes less than 24 hours after the club dismissed Adrian Griffin just 43 games into his first campaign as head coach.
Milwaukee was apparently seeking an experienced and accomplished bench boss.
Rivers boasts over two decades of coaching across four different clubs and has reached the playoffs in 19 of 24 seasons as the lead man, including a championship run with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
He won Coach of the Year honors in 2000. In February 2022, the 62-year-old was named one of the 15 greatest coaches in league history.
Rivers is one victory away from tying Larry Brown for eighth on the NBA's all-time list for wins. The Chicago native also ranks fourth with 111 playoff victories.
The Philadelphia 76ers fired Rivers following the 2022-23 campaign. He then accepted a color commentator role with ESPN after reportedly finishing as the runner-up to Frank Vogel for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching vacancy.
Ex-Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger is under consideration to join Rivers' staff, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Joerger previously worked under Rivers during the latter's three-year stint with the 76ers.
Rivers has ties to the Milwaukee area. He played three seasons at Marquette before embarking on a 13-year playing career in the Association.
Milwaukee sits second in the East with a 30-13 record, just 3.5 games back of the top-seeded Celtics.