Shortly after splitting with the Bucks at the end of the 2025/26 season, Doc Rivers said on Bill Simmons’ podcast that he’d be “surprised” if he coaches another game. On Monday, Rivers doubled down on that stance after NBC Sports announced that he’ll be joining the network as a game analyst for the coming NBA season.
“I honestly can say I’m absolutely retired,” Rivers told Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. “I had a long run. It ended up in theHall of Fame and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and played as long as I did. For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100% attention, which I’m really looking forward to.”
As Reedy writes, after he retired as a player back in 1996, Rivers turned down an offer from NBC to become an NBA analyst due in large part to his interest in coaching. He did have brief stints with Turner Sports and ESPN as a broadcaster, but he has spent most of the past three decades as an NBA head coach.
Rivers coached the Magic, Celtics, Clippers, Sixers, and Bucks from 1999-2026, registering a 1,194-866 (.580) regular season record and a 114-112 (.504) mark in the playoffs, and winning a title with Boston in 2008. The 64-year-old ranks sixth all-time among NBA coaches in total regular season wins and fourth in postseason victories.
As NBC notes in its press release announcing Rivers’ hiring, he has coached five of the former players who currently work as analysts and commentators for the network: Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, Jamal Crawford, and his son Austin Rivers.
“With this opportunity, one of the things I thought was I’d love to work with Austin. That would be a lot of fun to be able to work with him,” Doc told Reedy. *“It’s funny when you think about half the staff, I’ve either coached or been the father. I had a fight with (NBC game analyst) Reggie (Miller), which is even funnier. So it’s pretty cool how connected I am to all the talent.”*
NBC and Peacock will be airing 100 regular season NBA games in 2026/27, starting with an opening-night triple-header on October 20.