Chris Haynes of TNT Sports reports that the Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Doc Rivers. Chris Mannix of SI estimated Rivers' salary at "a very lucrative one."
The move wasn't surprising. Rivers was immediately mentioned as a successor for Adrian Griffin, who was dismissed Tuesday following a 30-13 start.
The Athletic's Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Eric Nehm reported that Rivers was Griffin's "informal consultant" during the season. His appointment as head coach was easy for the team.
He went 1,097-763 with the Orlando Magic (1999-00 to 2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05 to 2012-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14 to 2019-20), and Philadelphia 76ers (2020-21 to 2022-23), winning one title and 19 playoff games.
Rivers will maximize the potential of a Bucks squad featuring superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. Apparently, that team disliked Griffin.
Haynes says squad members "privately complained about their roles, touches, chemistry and constantly questioned the schemes on both sides of the ball."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski stated "Bucks general manager Jon Horst believes Griffin will develop into a very good NBA head coach but lost confidence that he could do it within the timeline of the Bucks' immediate championship window, sources said."
Rivers has managed star-studded teams. Now, he must turn a good Bucks team—especially defensively—into a championship contender.