Leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a remarkable comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, coach Doc Rivers secured his spot as the head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the upcoming All-Star Game. Despite only being hired as the Bucks coach a few weeks prior and having a record of 1-2, Rivers found himself with this unexpected honor. However, he believes that the recognition should have gone to Adrian Griffin, the previous coach, who was unfairly fired after an impressive record of 30-13. Rivers’s intention is to give his All-Star ring and bonus to Griffin, acknowledging the hard work he put into leading the team.
Rivers expressed his disbelief at being chosen as the All-Star coach after just one win, stating that it was “ridiculously bad.” He even proposed a rule change to ensure that such decisions are made by someone other than the coach in question. Despite his reservations, the Bucks’ triumph over the Mavericks solidified their position as the team with the best record among those with eligible coaches through February 4th. This meant that the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars fell on Rivers’s shoulders.
The news of Rivers being selected as the All-Star coach surprised many, including the Bucks’ players themselves. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team’s star forward, responded with bewilderment when asked about Rivers coaching the game. Damian Lillard, another All-Star guard on the team, found the situation amusing but noted that it had not been a topic of conversation in the locker room. Both players recognized the hard work of the assistant coaches and believed that they, too, deserved recognition for the team’s success.
This will be Rivers’s fourth time coaching in the All-Star Game, having previously done so in 2008, 2011, and 2021. His appointment as an All-Star coach after taking over a team mid-season is not unprecedented, as it happened most recently with Tyronn Lue replacing David Blatt as the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2015-16 season. Despite his accomplishments, Rivers jokingly considered sending his coaching staff to Indianapolis while he goes on vacation. He left his job as an ESPN analyst to join the Bucks and is grateful for the opportunity to coach in the All-Star Game.
Despite his initial surprise and reservations, Doc Rivers’s first win as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks secured him the position of head coach for the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the upcoming All-Star Game. While some may view this choice as unconventional, Rivers acknowledges the hard work of his predecessor and intends to pass on the recognition to him. With his unique experience and coaching skills, Rivers is ready to take on the challenge of coaching in the All-Star Game.
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