*This content was translated by AI.
The fate of a once-celebrated "master coach" who dominated the NBA (U.S. professional basketball) is grim. Doc Rivers (65), former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, was fired amid constant conflicts with the team and poor performance, effectively announcing his forced retirement as he steps away from on-court duties.
According to multiple U.S. media outlets, including MassLive, reporting on the 20th (Korean time), former coach Rivers declared he would end his coaching career. Following Milwaukee's decision on the 14th to terminate Rivers' contract, which was guaranteed through the 2026–2027 season, he ultimately announced his retirement after deep deliberation. However, another U.S. outlet, Clutch Points, reported on the 21st that Milwaukee continues to persuade Rivers to take on an advisory role within the organization.
In fact, Rivers' dismissal was foreseeable. On the 13th, Milwaukee concluded its regular season with a decisive 106–126 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks' final record for this season was 32 wins and 50 losses, with a winning percentage of just 0.390, falling short of the 40th% mark. Naturally, they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
When Rivers was initially brought in as a "firefighter" in January 2024, expectations for him were high. However, during his tenure in Milwaukee, he left behind a dismal record of 97 wins and 103 losses, and in both playoff appearances, the team was eliminated in the first round, rendering the label "competitor" entirely inappropriate.
More serious than mere poor performance was Rivers' "autocratic leadership" within the locker room. Local reports indicate that instead of encouraging players, Rivers adopted a demeaning approach. Notably, it was revealed that he forced teammate Kyle Kuzma (31) to watch a video of his own mistakes in front of his peers, hurling insults that bordered on personal humiliation, which sent shockwaves through the team.
The conflict with team cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo (32) proved to be the final blow. Their relationship, initially strained by disagreements over trade policies, escalated into a full-blown crisis over the timing of Giannis' return from injury in the latter part of the season. ESPN reporter Shams Charania exposed that Rivers had adopted an arrogant attitude in early April, telling players, "Google my career. I've always led underdog teams to the championship." This act completely eroded the players' trust.
Rivers, who previously coached the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers, is a Hall of Fame inductee, ranking sixth all-time in regular-season wins and fourth in playoff wins. Yet, reactions from local fans and experts who witnessed this situation have been cold. As news of his dismissal spread, multiple reporters made pointed remarks. U.S. basketball writer Adam Schefter stated, "Rivers is the most overrated coach in North American professional sports over the past 40 years. He doesn't even deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame. I know from experience."
John Heyman of the New York Post, who primarily covers Major League Baseball, also downgraded Rivers, saying, "He may seem like a good person, but he was a great flatterer. He relied solely on his eloquence to secure good jobs. It's fortunate that his true nature has finally been revealed."
Milwaukee, which once boasted an "ace" in Antetokounmpo but ended up as mere spectators in the postseason, now faces the task of healing the wounds left by Rivers. Reports indicate that the team has already made contact with Taylor Jenkins (42), who served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from June 2019 to March 2025.
Once a "master coach" who won a championship ring with Boston in 2008 and dominated the league, Doc Rivers now departs after leaving behind insults toward players, clashes with star players, and a worst-ever record. Instead of the title "legend," only the stigma of "a textbook example of overrating" remains.
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*This content was translated by AI.
