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Bucks Make Coaching Move After Unexpected Doc Rivers News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Apr 3, 2025 8:19 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks are taking on the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. are looking to win their second straight game to improve to 42-34.

They will have to try and win against the Sixers without their head coach, though.

The Bucks announced that Doc Rivers wasn't feeling well during the game and went back to the locker room.

Darvin Ham, who used to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, took over for Rivers.

The Bucks say Doc Rivers isn't feeling well, and is watching the game back in the locker room.

Lead assistant Darvin Ham is coaching the team in his absence.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 3, 2025

Ham went 90-74 with the Lakers, who fired him last offseason and replaced him with JJ Redick.

Los Angeles lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in Ham's first year at the helm. The Lakers then lost to the Nuggets again in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

Ham was an assistant coach with the Bucks from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Milwaukee won the 2021 title against the Phoenix Suns.

As a player, Ham played for the Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. He won the 2004 championship with the Pistons, who defeated the Lakers.

Ham averaged 2.7 points in the NBA. His last season in the league was in 2004-05. He joined the Lakers as an assistant coach in 2011.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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