Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

76ers president: Joel Embiid 'shocked' by Doc Rivers firing

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/17/23

Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey told reporters Wednesday that MVP center Joel Embiid was "shocked" by the team's decision to fire Doc Rivers.

Morey confirms that Joel Embiid was "shocked with the change" but says that it's his job to convince him the next coach is someone he'll have a strong relationship with.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 17, 2023

The Sixers announced the Rivers news on Tuesday, two days after they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia held a 3-2 series edge before the Celtics won Game 6 on the road and routed the 76ers in Game 7 behind a record-breaking 51-point performance by Jayson Tatum.

Rivers lasted three seasons with the Sixers, all of which ended in second-round playoff exits.

Daryl Morey on firing Doc Rivers: "My job is to evaluate everything. And we felt like that was the best move for helping us get to our goals going forward. It was carefully thought out, and I recommended it to ownership and they accepted it."
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 17, 2023

Daryl Morey: "The players won't have a direct input in the coach. Obviously who we have as players I think impacts how you want to look for a coach that is a fit with how we want to play and the players we have. But the players won't have an input in that."
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 17, 2023

Morey on a new coach: "I do think if you look at the history of the NBA, it's challenging to walk into that as a first-time NBA head coach. That doesn't mean it hasn't worked. There are, for every rule, solid counterexamples. So we're not going to go in with like a prescription."
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 17, 2023

Despite some cautious optimism by fans due to a core of Embiid, former MVP James Harden and rising star Tyrese Maxey, many remained hesitant to buy into championship aspirations due to Rivers' spot at the helm (and the team's recent playoff history). Sunday was the former Boston coach's fifth consecutive Game 7 defeat and his 10th Game 7 loss overall.

Rivers hasn't made it past the conference semifinals since 2012 and his only title came in 2008 with the Celtics, behind a big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

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