Doc Rivers Philadelphia 76ers
Getty
Head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The former Philadelphia 76ers head coach, Doc Rivers, is in a tough spot.
Just a few seasons after parting ways with the Sixers, Rivers is struggling to maintain support as the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach.
This week, HoopsHype updated its NBA hot seat rankings, which doesn’t bode well for Rivers deep into March.
“Rivers’ seat couldn’t get much hotter, as we actually think it’s likelier both he and Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be gone this offseason than it is that they will both be back,” HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina wrote.
According to the list, Rivers is No. 1. The 2025-2026 NBA regular season is wrapping up very soon, and the Bucks are beginning to accept the reality that they won’t be joining the postseason battle this year.
When the team brought on Rivers to shockingly replace Adrian Griffin, they couldn’t imagine being in this position just a few years down the line.
Rivers Is Losing Support
Doc Rivers, fired by the Sixers on Tuesday.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 29: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
When Rivers parted ways with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020, he quickly gained interest from the Sixers, who fired Brett Brown.
At the time, Rivers was one of the hottest names on the market after he had an impressive run with a Clippers team that had plenty of doubters before its superteam era arrived.
But expectations were much higher for Rivers in Philadelphia from the gate. He was inheriting a team of two All-Stars (Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid) that had championship expectations after getting swept in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
The Sixers made the playoffs each year under Rivers. For three straight seasons, the Sixers advanced into the second round. But making round two was no longer good enough for Philadelphia.
In 2023, Rivers was coaching for his job even if he didn’t believe it. The Sixers finished the year with a 54-28 record. They swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round before losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Rivers’ seat was hot, and the Sixers fired him days later.
A Delayed Chance With The Bucks
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks meets with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 22, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
After a brief period of getting back into the media game and doing some coaching consulting, Rivers was back to running a bench for Milwaukee.
The Bucks finished the 2023-2024 season by going 17-19 under Rivers. They lost in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, Milwaukee won 58.5% of its games during the first full run with Rivers in charge. Once again, they had a first-round exit.
This year, the Bucks don’t have enough time to force their way into the Play-In Tournament. At 29-43, they trail the 10th-seeded Miami Heat by 9.5 games.
There hasn’t been too much insider smoke suggesting Rivers’ job is up in the air in the coming weeks, but it shouldn’t come as a shock if the Bucks start to think about hitting reset buttons across the board.
If that’s the case, it could put the former Sixers head coach in a tough position.
There’s no denying that Rivers is one of the most prominent coaches in the game. However, the Sixers and Bucks runs are leaving a stale taste. Rivers will be a coach to keep an eye on as the season concludes.