Doc Rivers passes coaching legend with milestone win 1 Dec 29, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

Doc Rivers passes coaching legend with milestone win

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Nathan Yasis | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 3:08 AM ET

The Bucks’ 123-113 road victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night went beyond a simple standings boost. Giannis Antetokounmpo kept rolling in his return from injury to push Milwaukee to a second consecutive win, and the night doubled as a memorable one for head coach Doc Rivers, who reached a personal milestone in the process.

The win marked the 1,176th regular season victory of Rivers’ NBA head coaching career, lifting him past George Karl and into sixth place on the league’s all time wins list. The Bucks made note of the accomplishment moments after the game ended.

Congratulations to Doc Rivers on moving into sixth on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list. pic.twitter.com/iIXPMFNCU1

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 30, 2025

“Congratulations to Doc Rivers on moving into sixth on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list,” the Bucks wrote on a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Rivers reached the milestone in his 27th season as an NBA head coach and his third year with Milwaukee, adding to a career that has stretched across several franchises. His win total reflects stops with the Magic, Clippers, and 76ers, along with a championship run in Boston in 2008, before arriving with the Bucks.

Doc Rivers’ new milestone with the Bucks

He now stands as the only active head coach inside the league’s top 10 for regular season victories. Even so, Rivers said after the game that he did not realize he had passed George Karl until someone informed him afterward.

“Yeah, I had no idea. It’s nice. I don’t know who I passed, I don’t know any of that,” Rivers remarked during his postgame availability.

The achievement comes amid an uneven season for Milwaukee, which sits at 14-19 but has shown signs of life by winning three of its last four games. Rivers downplayed the individual honor and instead pointed to the many players he has coached over nearly three decades as the true reason behind the milestone.

Doc Rivers passes coaching legend with milestone win 2 Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walks past head coach Doc Rivers in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

“I’ve had teams that had no stars on it that made it to the playoffs, and it’s more than just character. So, I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of good guys,” the Bucks head coach continued.

As Antetokounmpo continues to round into form and Milwaukee pushes toward the Eastern Conference play-in mix, Rivers’ milestone night may offer a steadying point for a team trying to find its footing and carry momentum into the new year.

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

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