By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
ORLANDO, FL − Milwaukee Bucks legend Marques Johnson and current head coach Doc Rivers were named finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Feb 11.
Johnson, 70, was voted as a finalist by the veteran’s committee. He was a three-time all-NBA selection and five-time all-star who played seven seasons with the Bucks and finished in the top-10 of MVP voting two times. Over his 11-year career, Johnson averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He also was one of the first “point forwards” in the NBA under former Bucks head coach Don Nelson.
“I’m so happy for Marques,” Rivers said. “I played against Marques. I know a Hall of Famer when I see one and I played against Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief. They both deserve to be in. Sidney’s in and now it’s Marques’ turn. It would be fantastic if he gets in.”
Currently the Bucks television analyst, Johnson already is in the college basketball hall of fame.
Johnson has had an interesting candidacy, as he had not reached the finalist stage from 2022-23 after being a finalist from 2018-22.
He was also a finalist in 2025.
Doc Rivers is a finalist for the Hall of Fame
Rivers advanced to the finalist stage in his second year of eligibility, joining 10 others on the North American Committee ballot.
“It’ll be great if it happens,” Rivers said. “I don’t have a lot to say about it. It’s an amazing thing. I don’t do well with awards and accomplishments. It’s never been anything about me. I’ve had so many coaches and players that helped me get here. Front-office people who trusted me. It is a cool thing. My kids all called today and they told me, could you at least smile and be happy about something for once in your life, one of my kids said. And I told them I would be.”
Rivers, 64, was named one of 15 greatest coaches in NBA history in 2021 when the Top 75 players in league history were named. He was the 1999-2000 coach of the year while in Orlando and led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship.
He further bolstered his candidacy this season when the Bucks captured the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, making Rivers the first coach to win each trophy.
Heading into the Bucks game against Orlando on Feb. 11, Rivers has a career record of 1,183-846 (58.3%) in the regular season. He is 86-83 in his time with Milwaukee. He is currently No. 6 all-time in coaching wins and No. 5 in games coached. He is No. 4 all-time in playoff victories with 114.
In 2022, former Bucks coaches Larry Costello, Del Harris and George Karl all were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Don Nelson was enshrined in 2012.
Jon McGlocklin does not reach finalist stage
Jon McGlocklin was nominated for the Hall of Fame in the contributor category,
Known as the “original Buck,” McGlocklin, 82, was part of the first team in franchise history in 1968-69. He was an all-star that season, and then helped the Bucks win the 1971 NBA title and return to the NBA Finals in 1974. He played eight of his 11 seasons in Milwaukee. He then moved to the broadcast booth and was the team’s color analyst for 35 years.
More than those accomplishments, however, McGlocklin co-founded the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. (MACC) Fund with former Bucks play-by-play voice Eddie Doucette in 1976. According to its website, the MACC Fund has raised over $57 million to fight childhood cancer.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks Marques Johnson, Doc Rivers finalists for the basketball hall of fame
Reporting by Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect