Rivers steps down as Bucks coach, reportedly may return in advisory role

Doc Rivers stepped down as the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach, the club announced Monday.

Rivers went a combined 97-103 over three seasons after replacing Adrian Griffin in January 2024. This season, Milwaukee produced a 32-50 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

"I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from the fans and the community," Rivers said in a statement.

The Bucks, who previously signed Rivers to a $40-million contract through 2026-27, will pay out the remainder of his deal and consider the veteran coach for an advisory role, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Rivers hinted last week that he was considering leaving his role at the end of the season to spend more time with his grandchildren.

The 64-year-old struggled to achieve postseason success with the Bucks, who won just three playoff games under his guidance and never made it out of the first round.

The former Coach of the Year also occasionally appeared at odds with star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who criticized the team's playing style multiple times during the season before being shut down with a hyperextended knee. Antetokounmpo disagreed with the organization's assessment that he wasn't fit to play and called its decision to bench him "a slap in my face." He again took aim at the team following Sunday's finale, calling it "disrespectful" to not play him in the final weeks of the season.