Could be Dock Rivers be fired by the Milwaukee Bucks’ bad start to the new season? A new report explains why the answer is a definitive no.
The Bucks entered the 2024-2025 season with some big expectations. The franchise has been to the playoffs for the past eight seasons, and their 49-win season — their lowest since 2020-21 — was forgiven because they made some big changes last year.
Related: Where do the Milwaukee Bucks land in our latest NBA power rankings?
They added the future Hall-of-Famer Damian Lillard to a championship-level mix with superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo. They hired Adrian Griffin as the new head coach. He then fired him a third of the way through the season and replaced him with legendary coach Doc Rivers. Additionally, Lillard and Antetokoumnpo’s year-end injuries played a major role in their first-round elimination from the playoffs.
With a summer and full training camp under Rivers, they were expected to get off to a flying start this season. However, it has turned out to be completely the opposite. Heading into their game on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, they have a shocking record of 3-8. And surprisingly, they are among the worst defensive teams in the NBA.
It has led to speculation that they could either trade their top stars or try to acquire better pieces to suit them before the February trade deadline. Many are also wondering if the organization can fire the 63-year-old Rivers and move on to its fourth head coach in three seasons.
But this week The Athletics NBA insiders Eric Nehm and Sam Amick why this is very unlikely.
- Doc Rivers record (career): 1117-790 Record, .586 winning percentage
Doc Rivers is a near lock to keep the Milwaukee Bucks job for the remainder of the season
Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
“For those wondering if Rivers could be the No. 1 pick, let’s not forget that the Bucks paid him about $40 million less than a year ago on a three-and-a-half-year contract,” the pair wrote. “What’s more, (Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon) Horst is under pressure because of the way recent seasons have gone, and league sources are skeptical he will be given the space to make another coaching change anytime soon.”
Rivers is a shot at being inducted into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame as a coach and has not had a losing season his entire career. However, he peaked during his tenure with the Boston Celtics in the late 2000s and hasn’t been able to reach those heights since.
Related: Where does Giannis Antetokounmpo rank in our rankings of the 50 best NBA players in 2024-2025?