Doc Rivers is officially stepping away from NBA coaching, dropping the bombshell that he’s “absolutely retired” from the sidelines. He isn’t just chilling out, though. This Hall of Famer is jumping straight into the broadcast booth with NBC, set to work as an analyst for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. According to Joe Reedy of the Associated Press, Rivers has no plans to ever return to coaching.
From The Sidelines To The Studio
Rivers is all in on this new chapter. He straight up said, “I honestly can say I’m absolutely retired. I had a long run. It ended up in the Hall of Fame and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and play 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.” This isn’t his first rodeo on the TV side either. He spent three years with Turner Sports back in the 1990s and was even with ESPN/ABC at the start of the 2023-24 season before the Milwaukee Bucks job pulled him back. The dude just can’t quit the game. “I don’t take a lot of breaks in my life,” he explained, adding, “I’ve always been around the game and this is a way of keeping me there. When you think about it, I’ve played, I’ve coached, I’ve been in the front office, I’ve done TV, I’ve done about everything you can do in our game. And that gives me an interesting perspective and hopefully I can share that with the viewers.”
27 Seasons, A Ring, And A Hall of Fame Nod
Yeah, Doc might be heading to the analyst chair, but let’s not forget what he’s best known for: coaching. The man led the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Bucks across 27 different seasons. His very first gig as a head coach was way back in 1999-00 with the Magic, and he was just coaching Milwaukee last season! Talk about a run. His teams hit the playoffs in a ridiculous 21 of those 27 campaigns. He famously led the Celtics to that championship back in 2008 and got them to the NBA Finals again in 2010. It’s no surprise he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class earlier this year.
So, while we won’t see Doc pacing the sidelines anymore, get ready for his perspective from the booth. He’s bringing all that experience, from playing to coaching to the front office, to our screens. It’s gonna be a different look for Doc, but one he’s clearly fired up about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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