TITLE: Doc Rivers Dismisses Talk of Imminent Retirement
SLUG: doc-rivers-denies-retirement-rumor
CONTENT:
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers rejected speculation on Friday that he intends to leave the sidelines after the current NBA season.
Rivers’ response followed comments made earlier in the week by ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, who told SiriusXM listeners that the 64-year-old coach planned to retire once the campaign ends. “No, I’m not getting into that,” Rivers said, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “I think he feels that way, but not for me.”
Smith’s remark emerged during a call-in question about whether Rivers could mentor guard Ja Morant if Morant were ever traded to Milwaukee. “Doc Rivers is gonna retire at the end of this season,” Smith said. “He’s been coaching for close to 25 years. This is it for him.”
Rivers remains under contract with Milwaukee through the 2026-27 season. He owns a career regular-season record of 1,188-851 and earlier this year moved ahead of George Karl for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time wins list. The veteran coach is also a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Bucks have more immediate concerns than their coach’s future. Milwaukee sits at 26-35, currently outside the Eastern Conference playoff positions, with star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo having missed nearly half the season. “We’re 25th either way,” Rivers said of the team’s performance metrics. “That’s not a good sign.”
Source: Hoops Wire
