Right now, Doc Rivers is on a mission to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to glory. He has reached the pinnacle in the past, and he is now hoping to deliver his new team to the promised land.
The one and only time Coach Doc lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy, however, was 16 long years ago. This was during his celebrated stint with the Boston Celtics. Rivers did not have that same level of success with the other three teams he’s coached in the past.
Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Sounds Off on Clippers Icons
Rivers sat at the helm for the Los Angeles Clippers between 2014 and 2020. He spent many years coaching that memorable iteration of the Clippers (remember Lob City?), which, unfortunately, did not result in a championship.
“I took the job and my number one goal was to make the Clippers a destination,” Rivers said, via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “That was what we said. Make this place [a place you want to be]. I told this story, I wanted to cover up the Laker banners not because it was the Lakers, I just thought it was a Clipper game. Let’s be the Clippers. And then I wanted to retire a jersey. There was no jersey to retire. And so I looked at our guys and said, ‘we have to build a tradition here so there will be.’”
During his spell as the Clippers’ head coach, Rivers got a chance to work with a handful of outstanding players. As a matter of fact, the 62-year-old believes that at least three of them deserve to see their jerseys retired by the franchise:
“I think there will be jerseys coming forward,” he continued. “I think Blake (Griffin). I think [DeAndre Jordan], 100% should be. And I think Chris Paul. So now, they’re starting to create a history and that’s important for franchises and that was what we wanted to do.”
I don’t think too many Clippers fans out there will disagree with this notion.
All this comes in line with the imminent opening of LA’s Intuit Dome, which is expected to open its doors in time for the start of the 2024-25 season.
“It means a lot,” Rivers told ClutchPoints. “They’re moving to a new arena. This is a franchise now. It is. It is a franchise that every year people expect now to be good. That’s a good thing.”
Doc Rivers told me he believes Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and CP3 should have their jerseys retired with the Clippers.
“I wanted to retire a jersey. There was no jersey to retire… I think there will be jerseys coming forward. Blake. I think DJ 100% should be. And I think… pic.twitter.com/BGh0PTby81
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 11, 2024
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.
