Doc Rivers fired by Milwaukee Bucks just minutes after season finale

The Milwaukee Bucks will embark on their third coaching search in the last three years. 

Just minutes after the Bucks lost in their season finale to the Philadelphia 76ers, marking their 50th loss of the season, the team announced that the front office and ownership are parting ways with head coach Doc Rivers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

Rivers is under contract through the 2026-27 season and the team is discussing whether he will move into an advisory role with the Bucks, sources told Charania. 

Rivers finishes his tenure with a losing 100-111 record, including playoffs. He led the Bucks to two first round exits in the prior two seasons, before missing the postseason entirely this year, which was the first time in a decade for the Bucks. 

ESPN reported last week that there was a season-long disconnect between Rivers and players. Reporting that Rivers denied. Reports earlier in the season also suggested that Rivers was considering retirement at the end of this year. 

Rivers took over as Bucks coach in January 2024, replacing Adrian Griffin, who led the Bucks to a 30-13 record before being fired. Griffin was hired to replace Mike Budenholzer, who led Milwaukee to a championship in 2021. 

Rivers has blamed his lack of success in Milwaukee on injuries to his top players each season. 

This is the first move from general manager Jon Horst and ownership in what will be the most important offseason in franchise history as they weigh whether or not the services of Giannis Antetokounmpo are what’s best for the team and for the superstar. 

Rivers, a former Marquette University standout whose jersey hangs in the rafters at Fiserv Forum, was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 earlier this month. 

A Chicago native, the 64-year-old was an NBA player for 14 seasons, making the All-Star team in 1988 with the Atlanta Hawks, where he played his first eight seasons. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

As a coach, Rivers was named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history. Rivers led the Boston Celtics to a championship in 2008. His only ring. In addition to Milwaukee, he also coached the Orlando Magic, Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. Rivers has a career record, including playoffs, of 1308-978 or a 57% win percentage.

Earlier this week, Rivers appeared on “Run It Back” where he said he and the front office were on the “same page.”

“I don’t want to say I’m retiring because I know that I’m not going to completely retire no matter what happens here,” he said. “But I’m in a great place, let me put it that way. Everything that happens, me, ownership, front office, we’re all on the same page.”