Even before he got the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coaching gig, Doc Rivers was already a controversial figure amongst fans. As it stands, he is one of several personalities in the league with a lot to prove during the 2024-25 season.
Rivers has long been a polarizing personality in the NBA, particularly among players from his time with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics. Despite leading the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008, Rivers has faced criticism from several former players. Most recently, Lou Williams shared his perspective on Rivers during an episode of The Underground Lounge podcast, highlighting the mixed feelings many players have about him.
Williams emphasized that opinions on Rivers are often extreme; some players admire him, while others harbor strong negative feelings. He personally praised Rivers, crediting him with revitalizing his career when he joined the Clippers. He noted that Rivers provided the reassurance he needed during a challenging time, ultimately leading to what the former NBA star called the best phase of his career.
Under Rivers’ coaching, Williams won two Sixth Man of the Year awards and averaged over 20 points per game during those seasons, which he described as a remarkable achievement for a player at the age of 31. Regardless of the criticism, it’s clear that Rivers’ influence has been significant in the careers of many players, and his coaching legacy continues to spark debate in the basketball community.
The Reason Why Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Has a Lot To Prove This Season
Apart from Williams’ opinion about him, there’s still the matter of the upcoming season for Rivers. According to an NBA analysis by ESPN, the Bucks head coach has a lot to prove when the new season commences.
“There are few people in the modern NBA who invoke more polarizing opinions than Doc Rivers. He was named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in league history, but hasn’t won a championship since 2008 or been to the NBA Finals since 2010.
Rivers jumped at the chance to take the Bucks’ coaching job in the middle of the 2023-24 season, but emphasized that expectations shouldn’t get too high given the limited practice time. Rivers took over a 32-14 team and finished 17-19, losing in the first round of the playoffs in a series mired by injuries.
Milwaukee has two superstars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard running it back for a second season, and a three-time All-Star and proven playoff performer in Khris Middleton. Now, Rivers will have a full offseason and training camp to mold the team before entering the 2024-25 season. Will he meet the Bucks’ championship expectations?”
Rivers, a former NBA player and current head coach, has had a notable coaching career that includes stints with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 and was named Coach of the Year in 2000.
It remains to be seen whether Rivers can coach the Bucks to become a worthy contender for a championship next season. Nevertheless fans and critics alike will keep an eye on him to see how he’ll do in the upcoming campaign.
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