Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images

Bucks' win allows Doc Rivers to climb NBA's all-time list

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 12:30 AM ET

Even though it's been a while since he's led a team on a deep run through the playoffs, Doc Rivers has still won a lot of games. Monday night's win was a monumental one for the 64-year-old coach.

Rivers' Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 123-113 thanks to 25 points from Bobby Portis, 24 from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 23 from Myles Turner. Kevin Porter Jr. also had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Doc Rivers is now looking up at Pat Riley on the all-time wins list

The Bucks' 14th win of the season marked No. 1,176 for Rivers in his career, moving him past George Karl and into 6th place on the NBA's all-time coaching wins list. Rivers is now behind Pat Riley and his 1,210 to crack into the top five.

But no matter how this season ends or even what happens throughout his entire Bucks tenure, Rivers' win total and overall resume is going to eventually secure him a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Congrats to @Bucks coach Doc Rivers for moving up to 6th on the all-time COACHING WINS list! pic.twitter.com/6wDDUwyWr2
— NBA (@NBA) December 30, 2025

In 27 seasons as an NBA head coach, Rivers owns a .585 win percentage, 21 playoff appearances, 114 postseason victories, two trips to the NBA Finals and a championship with the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.

Rivers is destined for the Hall of Fame despite playoff failures

And while Rivers' coaching career will likely be remembered for playoff failures - he's the only coach to blow three separate 3-1 series leads, his lone title is actually one more than the coach he passed and four others also among the league's top 10 in wins.

Time will tell how many more wins Rivers can accumulate and how far he can climb up the ladder before hanging up his whistle.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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