In a surprising turn of events, Doc Rivers secured his spot as the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars after recording his first win as the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks’ impressive 129-117 comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks sealed the deal for Rivers and his coaching staff, who will now lead the Eastern Conference team against the Western Conference on Feb. 18 in Indianapolis. However, Rivers himself has mixed feelings about the honor, feeling that it should have gone to his predecessor, Adrian Griffin, who was let go despite an impressive 30-13 record.
A Quirky Situation
Rivers expressed his disbelief at receiving the All-Star nod after just one win, considering it “ridiculously bad.” He even pledged to give his All-Star ring and bonus to Griffin as a sign of appreciation. Rivers feels that someone other than him should have been chosen for the honor, given the limited time he has spent with the team. It is an unusual situation, but one that Rivers aims to navigate with humility and gratitude.
The Bucks currently boast a 33-16 record, making them one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Their victory over the Mavericks solidified their strong position, ensuring they will have the best record among teams with eligible coaches for the All-Star Game. While the Boston Celtics have the best overall record in the East, the presence of their coach, Joe Mazzulla, in last year’s All-Star Game disqualifies them from contention this season.
Some of the Bucks’ star players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard found the situation amusing. Antetokounmpo expressed his surprise when he learned that Rivers would be coaching the All-Star Game, highlighting the deserving role of the assistant coaches. Lillard chimed in, finding the whole situation funny and stating that it wasn’t a topic of conversation in the locker room. Despite the humor, both players acknowledged the hard work put in by the coaches and were happy for their recognition.
An All-Star Veteran
For Rivers, this marks his fourth appearance as a coach in the All-Star Game. He previously had the privilege in 2008, 2011, and 2021. This year’s selection is particularly notable as he becomes the fifth person to coach the game after taking over a team mid-season. The last time such a situation occurred was when Tyronn Lue replaced David Blatt with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2015-16 season. Rivers acknowledges the honor but jokingly suggests sending his staff while he enjoys a vacation, although he will ultimately abide by the decision of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Regardless of the circumstances, Rivers recognizes the efforts of his coaching staff and the entire organization in achieving this milestone. He attributes the victory against the Mavericks to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved. While he may have reservations about receiving the All-Star honor, Rivers remains focused on leading the Bucks to further success in the remainder of the season.
Doc Rivers’ first win with the Milwaukee Bucks secured him a spot as the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. While he feels that the honor should have gone to his predecessor, Rivers is grateful for the recognition and acknowledges the hard work put in by his coaching staff and players. With a strong record and a talented roster, the Bucks are poised to make their mark in the second half of the season under the leadership of their newly appointed coach.
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