Doc Rivers
Rivers coaching the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022
Personal information
Born (1961-10-13) October 13, 1961
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)[1]
Career information
High schoolProviso East (Maywood, Illinois)
CollegeMarquette (1980–1983)
NBA draft1983: 2nd round, 31st overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
Playing career1983–1996
PositionPoint guard
Number25
Coaching career1999–present
Career history
As player:
1983–1991Atlanta Hawks
1991–1992Los Angeles Clippers
1992–1994New York Knicks
1994–1996San Antonio Spurs
As coach:
1999–2003Orlando Magic
2004–2013Boston Celtics
2013–2020Los Angeles Clippers
2020–2023Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Career statistics
Points9,377 (10.9 ppg)
Assists4,889 (5.7 apg)
Steals1,563 (1.8 spg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  United States
Basketball
FIBA World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1982 Colombia National team

Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers (born October 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball coach, player, and current analyst for ESPN. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons and served as a head coach for 25 seasons.

Rivers played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 1983 NBA draft. He played point guard for the Hawks from 1983 to 1991 and was later a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs. Rivers was an NBA All-Star with the Hawks in 1988.

After retiring as a player in 1996, Rivers began his NBA coaching career. He was the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2003, the Boston Celtics from 2004 to 2013, the Los Angeles Clippers from 2013 to 2020, and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020 to 2023. Rivers was named the 2000 NBA Coach of the Year in his first season with the Magic and won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.

High school and college career

Rivers was a McDonald's All-American for Proviso East High School in the Chicago metropolitan area[2] He was given his nickname while attending a summer basketball camp at Marquette University while wearing a "Dr. J" t-shirt of Philadelphia 76ers player Julius Erving.[3] Rivers has alternated on whether the nickname originated from Golden Eagles head coach Al McGuire or assistant Rick Majerus.[4][5][6]

Rivers later played college ball for Marquette, and played on the U.S. national team in the 1982 FIBA World Championship, in which he led the team to the silver medal, after missing the last shot in the final.

After his third season at Marquette, Rivers was drafted in the second round (31st overall[7]) of the 1983 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He graduated from Marquette while completing course work as an NBA player.

Playing career

Rivers played point guard for the Atlanta Hawks from 1983 to 1991,[8] assisting star Dominique Wilkins as the team found great regular season success. Rivers' first NBA start was against Julius Erving (Dr. J), who referred to Rivers as "Doc" and "made [him] feel like a million bucks".[9]

He averaged a double-double for the 1986–87 season with 12.8 points and 10.0 assists per game.[10] In 1988, Rivers played in the NBA All-Star Game.[11] He received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1990.[12]

Rivers later spent one year as a starter for the Los Angeles Clippers (1991–1992), two years playing for the New York Knicks (1992–1994), and two years playing for the San Antonio Spurs (1994–1996). Rivers retired after the 1996 season. During his career, he averaged 10.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 3 rebounds per game.[13]

Coaching career

Orlando Magic (1999–2003)

Rivers began his coaching career with the Orlando Magic in 1999,[14] where he coached for more than four NBA seasons.[15] Rivers won the Coach of the Year award in 2000 after his first year with the Magic.[16] Despite having been picked to finish last in that year's standings, Rivers led the Magic close to a playoff berth.

During the Magic's free agency spending spree in the summer of 2000, Rivers tried to assemble a "Big Three" team in the NBA. The Magic were courting free agent Tim Duncan, who came close to signing with the Magic and teaming up with fellow stars Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. However, Duncan re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs due to Rivers' strict policy of family members not being allowed to travel in the team's plane.[17]

The Magic made the postseason in Rivers's next three years as head coach, but he was fired in 2003 after a 1–10 start to the season.[15]

Boston Celtics (2004–2013)

Rivers in 2011

After spending a year working as a commentator for the NBA on ABC (calling the 2004 Finals with Al Michaels), he was hired by the Boston Celtics as their head coach in 2004. During his first years with the Celtics, he was criticized by many in the media for his coaching style, most vociferously by Bill Simmons, who in 2006 publicly called for Rivers to be fired in his columns.

As a result of the Celtics' 109–93 victory over the New York Knicks on January 21, 2008, Rivers, as the coach of the team with the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference, earned the honor to coach the East for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans.[18]

On June 17, 2008, Rivers won his first and sole NBA Championship as a head coach after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.[19] The Celtics needed an NBA record 26 postseason games to win it. Rivers played for the team that held the previous record for most games played in a single postseason when the New York Knicks played in 25 postseason games during 1994.

Rivers led the Celtics to the 2010 NBA Finals where they once again faced the Los Angeles Lakers and lost the series in seven games.

After deliberating between staying on the job and leaving the job and returning to spend more time with his family in Orlando, Rivers finally decided that he would honor the last year of his contract and return for the 2010–11 season.[20]

On May 13, 2011, after months of rumors that he would retire, ESPN reported that the Celtics and Rivers agreed upon a 5-year contract extension worth $35 million.[21][22]

On February 6, 2013, Rivers notched his 400th win with the Celtics in a 99–95 victory over the Toronto Raptors.[23]

Los Angeles Clippers (2013–2020)

Rivers in 2013

On June 25, 2013, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Rivers from the Celtics for an unprotected 2015 NBA first-round draft pick. He also became the senior vice president of basketball operations on the team.[24] In his first season as their head coach, Rivers led the Clippers to a franchise-record 57 wins, garnering the 3rd seed in the Western conference. The 2014 NBA playoffs first round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors was marred when TMZ released an audiotape containing racially insensitive remarks made by the then-Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Though there was a possibility of the Clippers boycotting the series, they would play on, holding a silent protest by leaving their shooting jerseys at center court and obscuring the Clippers logo on their warm-up shirts. Rivers himself stated that he would not return to the Clippers if Sterling remained as owner the following season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver responded to the controversy by banning Sterling from the NBA for life and compelling him to sell the team. After the team was sold to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion on August 12, 2014, Rivers remained with the Clippers.[25]

On June 16, 2014, the Clippers promoted Rivers to president of basketball operations in conjunction with his continuing head coaching duties. Although Dave Wohl was hired as general manager, Rivers had the final say in basketball matters.[26] On August 27, 2014, he signed a new five-year contract with the Clippers.[27]

On January 16, 2015, Rivers became the first NBA coach to coach his own son, Austin Rivers,[28] until June 26, 2018, when he was traded to the Washington Wizards for Marcin Gortat.

On August 4, 2017, Rivers gave up his post as president of basketball operations. However, he continued to split responsibility for basketball matters with executive vice president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.[29] On May 23, 2018, Rivers and the Clippers agreed to a contract extension.[30]

On May 31, 2019, Rivers made comments on Kawhi Leonard during an appearance on ESPN, stating that "He is the most like Jordan that we've seen".[31] The Clippers were fined $50,000 due to Rivers' comments in violation of the league's anti-tampering rule.[32] The Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year contract on July 10, 2019.[33]

In the 2019–20 season, Rivers earned his 900th win as a head coach after the Clippers won at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 8, 2019.[34] In the Western Conference semifinals, the Clippers jumped to a 3–1 lead before losing 4–3 to the Denver Nuggets. Rivers became the first coach in NBA history with three teams who failed to advance from a best-of-seven series after taking a 3–1 lead.[35] He had previously been the only coach in NBA history whose teams had twice failed to advance from a best of seven series after taking a 3–1 lead.[35]

On September 28, 2020, Rivers stepped down following the Clippers' defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. His record through seven seasons with the team was 356–208, but he was ultimately unable to lead the Clippers to their first conference finals appearance in franchise history.[36]

Philadelphia 76ers (2020–2023)

On October 3, 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers announced that they had hired Rivers as their head coach.[37] As the 76ers got off to a 2–0 start in the 2020–21 season, Rivers earned his 945th career win passing Hall of Famer Bill Fitch for 10th on the all-time coaching regular season wins list, with the men ahead of him all having cleared the 1,000-win mark.[38] The 76ers also secured the first seed in the Eastern Conference, and defeated the Washington Wizards in five games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost in the semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.

On May 16, 2023, the 76ers fired Rivers, days after the team's loss in Game 7 of the conference semifinals to Boston.[39][40]

Broadcasting career

After being fired by the Orlando Magic in 2003, Rivers joined ESPN/ABC's NBA coverage, calling regular season games and the 2004 NBA Finals. After the Finals, he left the broadcast booth to become the head coach of the Boston Celtics. In 2023, he was added to the lead broadcasting team for ESPN, joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke.[41][42] During the semifinals of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, Rivers worked with TNT commentators Kevin Harlan and Candace Parker during one game, as part of a collaboration between ESPN and TNT.[43][44]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1983–84 Atlanta 814723.9.462.167.7852.73.91.6.49.3
1984–85 Atlanta 695830.8.476.417.7703.15.92.4.814.1
1985–86 Atlanta 535029.6.474.000.6083.18.42.3.211.5
1986–87 Atlanta 828231.6.451.190.8283.610.02.1.412.8
1987–88 Atlanta 808031.3.453.273.7584.69.31.8.514.2
1988–89 Atlanta 767632.4.455.347.8613.86.92.4.513.6
1989–90 Atlanta 484431.8.454.364.8124.25.52.4.512.5
1990–91 Atlanta 797932.7.435.336.8443.24.31.9.615.2
1991–92 L.A. Clippers 592528.1.424.283.8322.53.91.9.310.9
1992–93 New York 774524.5.437.317.8212.55.31.6.17.8
1993–94 New York 191926.3.433.365.6362.15.31.3.37.5
1994–95 New York 3015.7.308.600.7273.02.71.3.06.3
1994–95 San Antonio 60015.7.360.344.7321.72.61.0.45.0
1995–96 San Antonio 78015.8.372.343.7501.81.6.9.34.0
Career 86460527.3.444.328.7843.05.71.8.410.9
All-Star 1016.0.500—.4553.06.0——9.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1984 Atlanta 5—26.0.500.000.8782.03.22.4.813.6
1986 Atlanta 9929.1.435.500.7384.78.72.0.012.7
1987 Atlanta 8830.6.383—.5003.411.31.1.47.8
1988 Atlanta 121234.1.511.318.9074.99.62.1.215.7
1989 Atlanta 5538.2.386.316.7084.86.81.4.413.4
1991 Atlanta 5534.6.469.091.8954.03.01.0.415.6
1992 L.A. Clippers 5437.4.446.500.8153.84.21.2.015.2
1993 New York 151530.5.453.355.7672.65.71.9.110.2
1995 San Antonio 15021.2.389.370.8391.91.6.9.67.8
1996 San Antonio 2010.0.333.500—.5.0.0.01.5
Career 815829.5.446.338.7673.35.91.5.311.4

Head coaching record

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Orlando 1999–00 824141.5004th in Atlantic———— Missed playoffs
Orlando 2000–01 824339.5244th in Atlantic413.250 Lost in First round
Orlando 2001–02 824438.5373rd in Atlantic413.250 Lost in First round
Orlando 2002–03 824240.5124th in Atlantic734.429 Lost in First round
Orlando 2003–04 11110.091(fired)———— —
Boston 2004–05 824537.5491st in Atlantic734.429 Lost in First round
Boston 2005–06 823349.4023rd in Atlantic———— Missed playoffs
Boston 2006–07 822458.2935th in Atlantic———— Missed playoffs
Boston 2007–08 826616.8051st in Atlantic261610.615 Won NBA Championship
Boston 2008–09 826220.7561st in Atlantic1477.500 Lost in Conference semifinals
Boston 2009–10 825032.6101st in Atlantic24159.625 Lost in NBA Finals
Boston 2010–11 825626.6831st in Atlantic954.556 Lost in Conference semifinals
Boston 2011–12 663927.5911st in Atlantic20119.550 Lost in Conference finals
Boston 2012–13 814140.5063rd in Atlantic624.333 Lost in First round
L.A. Clippers 2013–14 825725.6951st in Pacific1367.462 Lost in Conference semifinals
L.A. Clippers 2014–15 825626.6832nd in Pacific1477.500 Lost in Conference semifinals
L.A. Clippers 2015–16 825329.6462nd in Pacific624.333 Lost in First round
L.A. Clippers 2016–17 825131.6222nd in Pacific734.429 Lost in First round
L.A. Clippers 2017–18 824240.5122nd in Pacific———— Missed playoffs
L.A. Clippers 2018–19 824834.5852nd in Pacific624.333 Lost in First round
L.A. Clippers 2019–20 724923.6812nd in Pacific1376.538 Lost in Conference semifinals
Philadelphia 2020–21 724923.6811st in Atlantic1275.583 Lost in Conference semifinals
Philadelphia 2021–22 825131.6222nd in Atlantic1266.500 Lost in Conference semifinals
Philadelphia 2022–23 825428.6592nd in Atlantic1174.636 Lost in Conference semifinals
Career 1,8601,097763.590 215111104.516 

Personal life

Rivers is the nephew of former NBA player Jim Brewer.[7]

Rivers has four children. His oldest son, Jeremiah, played basketball at Georgetown University and Indiana University,[45] and has played in the NBA D-League for the Maine Red Claws. His daughter Callie played volleyball for the University of Florida[46] and is married to NBA player Seth Curry.[47][48] Rivers's son Austin is an NBA player who as of 2023 plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.[49] His youngest son, Spencer, is a guard who played for Winter Park High School and for UC Irvine.[50]

Rivers became good friends with Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz during his tenure with the Hawks. In 2009, Rivers was credited with helping lure Smoltz into signing with the Boston Red Sox while he was the head coach of the Celtics.[51]

Rivers is a cousin of former NBA guard Byron Irvin and former MLB outfielder Ken Singleton.[52]

Rivers has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[53]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Glenn Rivers". National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. ↑ Mitchell, Fred (February 18, 2012). "Rivers reflects on stress son is under: Austin was high school phenom like his father, but Celtics coach says pressure much greater now". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  3. ↑ Doc Rivers Archived June 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Nba.com. Retrieved on May 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ Writer, TOM YANTZ; Courant Staff. "DOC RIVERS OWES HIS NAME TO AL MCGUIRE". courant.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Levick, Noah (October 6, 2020). "Doc Rivers or Glenn Rivers? Sixers' new head coach answers Marc Zumoff's big question". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ Forsberg, Chris (December 1, 2012). "Doc on Majerus: He 'gave me my name'". ESPN. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Doc Rivers Coaching Info Archived March 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at NBA.com
  8. ↑ "Classic Rivers Bio". Atlanta Hawks.
  9. ↑ Lowe, Zach (May 16, 2016). "Q&A: Doc Rivers on the Clippers, being Glenn and more". ESPN. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Doc Rivers is Clippers' coach only; no longer president of basketball operations | West Suburban Journal". August 27, 2017.
  11. ↑ "How MJ brought defense, competition to 1988 All-Star game". RSN.
  12. ↑ Barkowitz, Ed. "25 things to know about new Sixers head coach Doc Rivers". inquirer.com.
  13. ↑ "Doc Rivers - Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  14. ↑ "Doc Rivers' coaching career started in an unexpected place, and got off to an icy start". Los Angeles Times. February 2, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Rivers fired after Magic's 10th loss". Gainesville Sun. Associated Press.
  16. ↑ Ferguson, Mike (April 26, 2020). "20-year Orlandoversary: Magic's Doc Rivers named NBA Coach of the Year". Orlando Pinstriped Post.
  17. ↑ Call, Mike (February 15, 2018). "Grant Hill confirms the Tim Duncan/Doc Rivers airplane policy story". Orlando Pinstriped Post. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Doc Rivers to Coach East in 2008 All-Star Game". NBA.com. January 21, 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  19. ↑ Spears, Marc J. (June 18, 2008). "Ring it up!". Boston Globe.
  20. ↑ Wojnarowski, Adrian (June 30, 2010). "Rivers returning to coach Celtics". Yahoo! Sports.
  21. ↑ Doc Rivers agrees to 5-year extension with Boston Celtics – ESPN Boston. Sports.espn.go.com (May 14, 2011). Retrieved on April 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ Rivers gets five-year extension as coach of Celtics Archived May 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. NBA.com (May 13, 2011). Retrieved on April 20, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Celtics at Raptors". NBA.com.
  24. ↑ Patten, Eric (June 25, 2013). "RIVERS HEADED TO L.A." NBA.com.
  25. ↑ "Doc Rivers won't return to Clippers under Donald Sterling, per report". SBNation.com (Vox Media). April 29, 2014
  26. ↑ "CLIPPERS RESTRUCTURE BASKETBALL OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT". Los Angeles Clippers.
  27. ↑ "Doc Rivers Agrees to Contract Through 2019 Season". Los Angeles Clippers. August 27, 2014
  28. ↑ Markazi, Arash (January 16, 2015). "Austin, Doc say deal made sense". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Press Release: L.A. Clippers Announce Expansion of Leadership Team Through New Roles for Rivers, Frank". NBA.com. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  30. ↑ "L.A. Clippers, Doc Rivers, Agree to Contract Extension". NBA.com. May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  31. ↑ Youngmisuk, Ohm (May 31, 2019). "Clippers fined $50K for Rivers' Kawhi comments". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  32. ↑ "NBA fines Clippers $50,000 for Rivers' comments". NBA.com. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  33. ↑ Zucker, Joseph. "Kawhi Leonard Signs 3-Year, $103M Max Contract with Clippers". Bleacher Report.
  34. ↑ Harris, Beth (November 8, 2019). "Doc Rivers earns 900th career win as Los Angeles Clippers beat Portland Trail Blazers". Boston.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  35. 1 2 Urbina, Frank (September 15, 2020). "Doc Rivers is the only coach ever to blow three 3–1 series leads". MSN.com. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Doc out as Clips coach after surprising playoff exit". ESPN.com. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Team Names Doc Rivers Head Coach". NBA.com. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Doc Rivers climbs to 10th in career coaching wins". NBA.com. December 26, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Part Ways with Head Coach Doc Rivers". NBA.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  40. ↑ Wojnarowski, Adrian (May 16, 2023). "76ers fire coach Doc Rivers after three seasons". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  41. ↑ Tapp, Tom (August 14, 2023). "ESPN Revamps No. 1 On-Air NBA Announcing Team & Sets Up History-Making Finals Run For Doris Burke". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  42. ↑ Reedy, Joe (August 14, 2023). "Doris Burke and Doc Rivers named to ESPN and ABC's top NBA crew". Associated Press. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  43. ↑ "ESPN, TNT Collaborate on Game and Studio Coverage for Inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals December 7". ESPN Press Room (Press release). November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  44. ↑ "TNT Sports to Showcase Inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds with Three Nights of Coverage Next Week Across TNT, truTV & Max". Warner Bros. Discovery (Press release). November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  45. ↑ Doc Rivers' son to transfer from Georgetown. Sports.espn.go.com (May 7, 2008). Retrieved on April 20, 2012.
  46. ↑ Rivers flows through it – News – Archived December 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Gatorsports.com (December 6, 2007). Retrieved on April 20, 2012.
  47. ↑ Dowd, Katie (September 14, 2019). "Seth Curry and Callie Rivers wed in Malibu ceremony". SFGate. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  48. ↑ Lifshutz, Hannah (February 16, 2019). "Seth Curry and Doc Rivers' Daughter Are Officially Engaged". Complex. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Denver Nuggets Re-Sign Austin Rivers". NBA.com. September 1, 2021.
  50. ↑ "All in the family: UC Irvine's Spencer Rivers gets a chance to make a big impact". Los Angeles Times. March 20, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Doc Rivers Helped Land Smoltz". thesportsdaily.com. January 14, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  52. ↑ – Doc Rivers. Insidehoops.com. Retrieved on April 20, 2012.
  53. ↑ MacMullan, Jackie (August 22, 2018). "To medicate or not? The thorny mental health issue in the NBA". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
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