Doc Rivers let go as Bucks head coach

After three seasons at the helm, Doc Rivers has been let go as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks per ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Rivers is no longer leading the franchise, there are reports circulating that he could be stepping into an advisory role for the team. Although he is no longer with the team, the Bucks will still pay out Rivers eight-figure salary for the 2026/27 season.

With the firing of Rivers, the Bucks will now enter their third head coaching search in the last three years. Before Rivers the Bucks hired Adrian Griffin who served as head coach for the 2023/24 season, going 30-13 before being fired in January 2024, ultimately being replaced by Rivers. Mike Budenholzer led the organization prior to Griffin and Rivers, coaching the team from 2018-23 and winning a title in 2021, the franchises’ first since 1971 but was then fired on May 4th, 2023 after the top-seeded Bucks lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. After upsetting the Bucks, the Heat would then make their magical finals run that was predicated on their famous “Heat Culture” mantra.

This firing should not come as a surprise to Bucks fans due to Rivers finishing with a losing record in his three seasons as the head coach, (97-103) as well as the Bucks finishing the season with a record of 32-50. After Rivers took over the team in January of 2024, he finished the regular season 17-19, went 48-34 in 2024-25, and then finished his final season with another losing record.

In the wake of his release on Monday, Rivers had some heartfelt words for the Bucks organization and the city of Milwaukee as a whole stating, “I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee.” Rivers then added, “Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege.” Rivers followed up with, “I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for my experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and community.”

With the Bucks turning the page on the Doc Rivers era, it will be interesting to see what they do with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo after shutting him down on March 15th with what was reported as a hyper extension in his left knee. After being shut down, Antetokounmpo was adamant that he was fully healthy to play despite the reports, which has only fueled what seems to be a growing frustration between the franchise and star player. Giannis was all over the trade deadline rumors but ultimately stayed put in Milwaukee which left many NBA fans and front offices surprised. Giannis still has two guaranteed seasons left on his current contract, with a player option for a third year in 2027-28 worth $62.7 million.

I would be very surprised to see Giannis finish next season with the Bucks given how far they have fallen from grace since winning it all just five years ago. Doc Rivers never really seemed to be the right fit for the Bucks, and now with Mike Malone becoming the next head coach of North Carolina basketball, it will be interesting to see who Milwaukee brings in to hopefully rebuild a championship culture surrounded by a top-five player in the league in Antetokounmpo.