CAMDEN, N.J.–As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare for the NBA Playoffs and the Toronto Raptors, there are some issues that coach Doc Rivers has to address. There have been some rumors linking Rivers to the recent vacancy with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As the Sixers prepare for the playoffs back at practice on Tuesday, Rivers was asked about the rumors with the Lakers and he denied them.
“I think it’s disrespectful to all the other coaches,” said Rivers. “If I can say something about my job, then I would say this that I don’t like has changed. I just think the rumors about coaches taking jobs, coaches getting fired, I just think for my profession, it makes our job so much harder and I think it’s so unfair.”
Then Rivers turned his attention to the Frank Vogel situation. Not even one minute after the season ending for the Lakers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers were firing Vogel after three seasons and a title in 2020 and he had no idea about it.
“I think the Frank Vogel thing was so unfair,” Rivers continued. “We work just like you guys (the media) work. How would you like for your job to be mentioned every day even if it’s somebody wanting to have you? It’s just not right. I hate it. There’s nothing I can do about it, but we talk a lot here and everybody’s happy here. We want to get this right.”
The Sixers have a goal of winning a title with this group right now and Rivers is committed to the Sixers and making sure that he and the team are set up to win right now.
“I came here for one reason and like I said when I took the job, you’re gonna like some of the things I do (things) you’re not gonna like, and from a coaching point, you can’t really care about that, but I am committed to winning,” he explained. “I think we can turn this around which we have. From when I first got here to now, but we want to win it and that’s my focus.”
With that being said, Rivers did deny completely that he is not a candidate to be the coach of the Lakers.
“No, I’m not a candidate,” he finished. “I have a job and I am very happy with my job.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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