NBA Rumors: Doc Rivers, Bucks Have 'Mutual Interest;' No Contract Done Yet

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Jordan Schultz says that Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks have "mutual interest" in him as their next head coach, but no agreement has been reached.

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All this after the team shockingly sacked head coach Adrian Griffin 43 games into his first season. Under his leadership, the Bucks went 30-13, second in the NBA.

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Multiple stories indicated that the team's top players and management office had soured on Griffin this season:

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The Bucks won seven straight after that air clearing. The "bickering in the locker room continued," the defense didn't improve, and the Bucks decided to change.

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Rivers coached the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, giving him extensive expertise.

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[{"selector":"#anim-da0580ec-2f6e-41f3-b3cd-4b060e9de069","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9abf2300-3184-49bc-855d-0eeda4cf6841","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9727f230-f900-4a40-adff-02f48b4cb42e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.88887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that Rivers, an ESPN broadcast analyst, had been a "informal consultant to Griffin at the Bucks' behest" during Milwaukee's potential transition from Griffin to Rivers.

One month later, many sources say Rivers is the serious leader for the empty position and the preferred choice of major stakeholders."

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According to that source, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson might be hired "if the team is unable to secure a deal with Rivers."

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