MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� The Milwaukee Bucks don鈥檛 expect Doc Rivers back as their coach next season, a person familiar with the situation said Sunday night.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement about Rivers’ decision has been made.
There has been some discussion about whether Rivers will stay with the organization in some capacity. Those talks are ongoing, the person said.
ESPN first reported that Rivers won’t be back as Milwaukee’s coach next season.
The news caps a tumultuous season in which Rivers was selected to the while leading a Bucks team that was among the most disappointing in the NBA. The Bucks went 32-50 amid a series of injuries, snapping a string of nine straight playoff appearances.
The 64-year-old Rivers had left little doubt about his future plans as the season wound down. He said after a at Philadelphia on Sunday that 鈥淚 think you guys pretty much know鈥� his intentions and that an announcement was expected soon.
鈥淚 have seven grandkids now and they鈥檙e all 8 years and under,鈥� about his future before an April 7 loss at Brooklyn. 鈥淎nd it kills me every time I miss grandparents鈥� day with each one of them in school. And it鈥檚 probably time to go see them more. So, I鈥檒l let you figure out the rest.鈥�
Rivers went 97-103 in 2 1/2 seasons with the Bucks. He owns a 1,194-866 overall record and overtook George Karl for sixth place on the career wins list among NBA coaches earlier this season.
Only Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley have more coaching wins than Rivers.
Bucks’ unsettled future
Rivers鈥� exit comes amid all sorts of speculation regarding two-time MVP who led Milwaukee to its in 2021 and has set Bucks career records in virtually every major statistical category.
Antetokounmpo鈥檚 status dominated league discussions as the trade deadline approached, but he wasn鈥檛 dealt. He since has been in a over his injury status.
The Antetokounmpo played this season was on March 15. Antetokounmpo said in the closing weeks of the season that he was healthy and wanted to play, as the Bucks continued to rule him out due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. The NBA is
Antetokounmpo had two extended absences due to right calf strains and ended up playing in just 36 games. Kevin Porter Jr., the Bucks鈥� second-leading scorer, appeared in just 38 games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard,鈥� Rivers said Sunday. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember guys being out like this, but it makes sense. I haven鈥檛 had a lot of this. It鈥檚 no fun. Losing, I don鈥檛 give a crap what the reasons are, I鈥檓 just too competitive. It鈥檚 just no fun not winning. It just isn鈥檛.鈥�
Injuries hindered Rivers’ tenure
the Bucks midway through the 2023-24 season after the of first-year head coach Although the Bucks had gone 30-13 under Griffin, they鈥檇 posted some uncomfortably close wins over inferior teams and team officials believed a more experienced coach was needed to guide a roster that now featured seven-time all-NBA guard , as well as Antetokounmpo.
This move also represented a homecoming of sorts for Rivers, who played at Marquette before his 13-year NBA playing career. His No. 31 college jersey hangs from the rafters at Fiserv Forum, the arena that serves as the site for Bucks and Marquette home games.
But the Bucks backslid during Rivers鈥� tenure as they continually dealt with injuries to key players.
Milwaukee finished 17-19 under Rivers during that 2023-24 season, entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and 4-2 in the opening round, with the entire series due to a calf strain.
Last season, three-time All-Star wing Khris Middleton didn鈥檛 start playing until early December after recovering from offseason surgery to each of his ankles, and he got at the trade deadline. Lillard missed Milwaukee鈥檚 final 14 regular-season games due to in his right calf, for Game 2 of the Bucks鈥� first-round to Indiana but two games later.
With an injured Lillard unable to play this season, the Bucks and agreed to pay his remaining salary over the next five seasons. That opened up cap space for the Bucks to sign former Indiana Pacers center .
The roster overhaul didn鈥檛 work out.
鈥淚 personally have enjoyed the challenge,鈥� Rivers said after Sunday鈥檚 game. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 go the way I wanted it to go, obviously. I always say I could do a better job. We could have had better health. We could have had all kinds of things. But I鈥檓 not a big guy in looking back. All you can do is look forward.鈥�
Rivers won a title with Boston in 2008 and led the Celtics to Game 7 of the NBA Finals two years later, but he hasn鈥檛 advanced a team beyond the regional semifinals since. He owns a career playoff record of 114-112.
This marks the first full season in which Rivers has coached and posted a losing record since 2006-07, when he went 24-58 with Boston.
Rivers came to Milwaukee after head coaching stints with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He was working as a broadcaster for ESPN and ABC before the Bucks hired him.
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AP Pro Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
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