Doc Rivers has been a lightning rod of controversy lately.
After a poor start with the Milwaukee Bucks, JJ Redick ripped his former coach for never taking accountability. This after Rivers openly expressed skepticism as to why Milwaukee hired him in the first place. (Why would he say that out loud?) Setting aside that bringing anyone in at midseason is a little silly, it’s not as if Rivers has an excellent record of success in his previous stops.
For example, when he recently coached the Philadelphia 76ers to exactly zero Conference Finals appearances.
76ers fans have clearly not forgotten how little Rivers optimized their team. When the coach made his Philadelphia return on Sunday with the Bucks, he was heartily booed.
Warm reception for Doc Rivers. pic.twitter.com/LyqMRAY4Nm
— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) February 25, 2024
Rivers’ 76ers held a 3-2 series lead and lost to the Boston Celtics in last year’s playoffs. In the year prior, they underachieved entirely and fell in six games to a less talented Miami Heat team, also in the second round. Two years ago, despite being heavily favored, they allowed Trae Young’s Atlanta Hawks to clinch a berth in the Conference Finals over them.
The common denominator here was always Rivers, who often “struggles” to take accountability for his team’s failures. It’s not hard to see why Philadelphia fans still don’t like their favorite team’s ex-coach.