Doc Rivers may own an NBA championship ring from his time leading the 2008 Boston Celtics, but his recent track record has Milwaukee Bucks fans questioning whether he can guide their team on a deep playoff run.
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo delivering a championship to Milwaukee earlier in his career, the Bucks have not advanced past the first round in each of the past two seasons under Rivers. Both exits came against the Indiana Pacers.
Rivers’ postseason resume has long been scrutinized. He now has 10 first-round exits in 21 playoff appearances as a head coach.
This season, Milwaukee is banking on pairing Antetokounmpo with new addition Myles Turner to contend for another top seed in the Eastern Conference. Still, speculation already surrounds Rivers’ job security.
“There is certainly a level of pressure for Doc Rivers and Nick Nurse to succeed with the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively,” NBA insider Brett Siegel said. “Neither coach is in jeopardy of being fired at this moment, but both organizations expect to compete at the very top of the East. This is especially true now that the conference is wide open with the injuries to Tatum and Haliburton. Time will tell if the Bucks and 76ers look to take things in a different direction based on underperformance.”
While the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are currently viewed as the Eastern Conference favorites, the Bucks are not far behind and are expected to compete deep into the postseason.
Whether Milwaukee stays patient with Rivers if the team stumbles early in 2025-26 remains an open question.