New Hall Of Famer Doc Rivers Campaigns For Other Coaches To Be Enshrined

Rivers campaigned for Spurs legend Gregg Popovich to be enshrined while he was still coaching, and has done the same for Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who haven’t been selected yet. Rivers believes coaches would have more job security if they’re already Hall of Fame members.

“I really believe it would have saved some of these guys’ jobs, like George Karl,” Rivers said. “… His career should have been in the Hall. Then he gets in after he leaves [coaching]. But would he still have been coaching if he was ‘Hall of Fame coach George Karl?’ So, it’s a big thing for me, and I’m still pushing to get Rick Carlisle in now. It’s so funny. I’m in, but now I’m still working for NBA coaches.

“When I found out that you don’t need to retire to get in — because that was what we were told early, and that wasn’t true — I really started pushing it. So, yeah, it was a relief to get in. I knew my numbers. Everybody in the top 10 [in wins] is in the Hall of Fame. Half of those guys have never won a title. I’m in the top four in playoff wins. So, I knew I was going to get in at some point. But it’s still an amazing thing.”

Rivers addresses several other topics in the interview, including:

His “coaching tree,” which includes Tyronn Lue and Tom Thibodeau:

“I love it. It’s growing. Ty, I just couldn’t be prouder of. The guy that is not a part of the tree yet, but I think Rajon Rondo is going to be one hell of a coach. He’s the smartest human being I’ve ever coached, and he works at it. He was with me all this [past season in Milwaukee]. Now he’s a savant — and that doesn’t go well at times, because he sees [the game differently].”

Being escorted to the Hall of Fame podium by former Celtics stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen:

“Having them on stage means the world to me. I love to see these guys together. Winning a title should be like having a blood transfusion, as I’ve said many times, and these guys will always be tied together. It’s good to see them that way here. It’s interesting: I didn’t realize that when you made the Hall, the only people you can have introduce you are people in the Hall. This was an easy choice for me, though I must say if George Raveling was still alive I would’ve had George on the stage with me as well, along with Wayne Embry.”

The theme for his Hall of Fame speech:

“I’m not trying to motivate anybody at the Hall of Fame, whereas in the locker room, you know what you’re trying to do. I have written this speech 10 times over the last year, and it’s not good enough yet. I think the difference is, at least right now, it should be more about thankfulness than what you’ve done. Part of the [philosophy] of “Ubuntu” is that you don’t live in isolation, and that’s what I teach. If you’re successful, somebody helped you.”