Doc Rivers' three-year tenure as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks has concluded, as reported by ESPN. This development comes despite Rivers having a year remaining on his substantial $40 million contract. The Bucks management is reportedly in discussions with Rivers about a possible transition to a front office position for the 2026-27 season. The team's performance this season, a disappointing 32-50 record, resulted in their absence from the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.
Rivers assumed the head coaching role in January 2024, succeeding Adrian Griffin, who was let go despite a promising 30-13 start to the season. Under Rivers' leadership, the Bucks finished that season with a 17-19 record and were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. The subsequent season saw the Bucks achieve a 48-34 regular-season record, but again, they were defeated by the Pacers in the initial round of the postseason, with the Pacers ultimately advancing to the NBA Finals.
The season was also marked by internal tensions, particularly involving star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite only participating in 36 games during the 2025-26 season, Antetokounmpo maintained that he was fit enough to play during the critical closing stages of the campaign. Rivers, at 64 years old, is set to be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a coach this August, recognizing his extensive contributions to the sport.
With 27 years of coaching experience in the NBA, Rivers boasts an impressive career record of 1194 wins against 866 losses. He ranks sixth on the all-time list for coaching victories and famously led the Boston Celtics to an NBA Championship in the 2007-08 season. His coaching journey began with the Orlando Magic in the 1999-2000 season, where he earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in his inaugural year, guiding the team to a 41-41 record.
Rivers' coaching career includes stints with the Orlando Magic (1999-2004), Boston Celtics (2004-2013), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-2020), and Philadelphia 76ers (2020-2023), before joining the Bucks (2024-2026). Prior to his coaching career, the Chicago native had a 13-year playing career in the NBA, starting with the Atlanta Hawks (1983-1991), followed by periods with the Clippers (1991-1992), New York Knicks (1992-1995), and concluding with the San Antonio Spurs (1994-1996).
This managerial change for the Milwaukee Bucks reflects a move to address recent performance challenges and chart a new course for the franchise. The team's inability to progress deep into the playoffs, coupled with a significant drop in their regular-season standing, has prompted this decision. The future role of Doc Rivers, a revered figure in basketball, within the organization remains a subject of ongoing discussion, potentially signaling a different chapter in his long and distinguished career.
