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Doc Rivers is retired arsenic nan Milwaukee Bucks’ caput coach, ESPN reported Sunday, citing sources.
Rivers near his broadcasting occupation to return to nan NBA sidelines arsenic nan Bucks’ coach soon aft Adrian Griffin was fired 43 games into nan 2023-24 season. Now Rivers exits Milwaukee aft a 126-106 nonaccomplishment to nan Philadelphia 76ers connected Sunday, capping a 32-50 play that ended successful a missed NBA playoff berth.
Rivers coached nan Bucks to first-round playoff exits successful each of nan past 2 seasons.
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Apr 6, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks caput coach Doc Rivers looks connected against nan New Orleans Pelicans during nan 2nd half astatine Smoothie King Center. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)
The Bucks will now motorboat their 3rd caput coaching hunt successful nan past 3 years. Rivers’ departure comes amid uncertainty surrounding nan early of franchise prima Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks caput coach Doc Rivers addresses nan media successful a property convention during believe anterior to nan Emirates NBA Cup semi-finals astatine T-Mobile Arena. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)
The NBA waste and acquisition deadline passed successful February without a woody involving Antetokounmpo. The two-time convention MVP saw constricted action successful nan 2025-26 season, appearing successful a career-low 36 games.
Antetokounmpo dealt pinch a knee hyperextension and bony bruise during nan season. He was later sidelined for a agelong of games, fueling speculation nan Bucks unopen him down contempt his being healthy, prompting an NBA investigation into nan handling of nan prima forward.
Antetokounmpo’s vexation boiled complete arsenic he insisted he was healthy capable to play contempt being sidelined for a 10th consecutive crippled erstwhile Milwaukee faced nan Boston Celtics connected April 3.
"I’ve ne'er seen a lawsuit of a subordinate saying, my caliber of player, that’s for illustration — I’m saying it publically — I want to f---ing play. You cognize what I’m saying?" he said, via The Athletic. "I don’t deliberation I’ve seen this. So, if location needs to beryllium an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we fig thing out."
He past said he was "available to play."
Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo’s comments aft nan team’s 133-101 loss.
"The reliable portion astir each this is that I’m successful nan middle, and I person thing to do pinch it," Rivers said. "Coaches don’t determine immoderate of this. The problem pinch our convention is nan coaches are nan ones sitting retired front.
"And we person to beryllium present and reply this stuff. I deliberation location are 2 sides to this — I will show you that — but I don’t want to get excessively progressive successful it."
Giannis Antetokounmpo and caput coach Doc Rivers of nan Milwaukee Bucks talk earlier nan 3rd 4th against nan New York Knicks astatine Fiserv Forum successful Milwaukee, Wisconsin, connected Oct. 28, 2025. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Rivers added that he didn’t for illustration that nan feud had gone "public."
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Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds this season. He was named NBA Finals MVP erstwhile he helped nan Bucks unafraid nan franchise’s first title since 1971.
Rivers coached nan Celtics to nan NBA title successful 2008. He was drafted by nan Atlanta Hawks successful 1983. After retiring arsenic a player, Rivers moved into broadcasting, calling NBA games. In 1999, he was named caput coach of nan Orlando Magic, a domiciled he held until 2003.
Before returning to nan coaching ranks, Rivers was portion of ESPN’s lead NBA broadcasting team.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
