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Levon Campbell III
Staff Writer
In a surprising move, the Milwaukee Bucks hired Doc Rivers as their new head coach on Jan. 26, just three days after firing their previous coach, Adrian Griffin.
Rivers’ contract is set to last four years, until the 2026-27 NBA season, and is worth an estimated $40 million. This move is expected to bring a veteran NBA coach to lead the Bucks and help them contend for a championship.
According to www.Theathletic.com, Rivers stated, “This is a great This is a great opportunity to come to a first-class organization with a team that has a talented roster of high-character players. “I want to thank Wes, Jimmy, Dee, and Jamie, along with Jon, for their trust in me. It’s amazing to come home to Milwaukee where at Marquette I learned the game of basketball from Rick Majerus, Al McGuire, and Hank Raymonds. A special thanks to ESPN for my time there. I’m truly grateful. Now, I’m excited to get started with the Bucks.”
Rivers, 62 years old, had been serving as an informal consultant to Griffin at the request of the Bucks, but the team surprisingly agreed to a deal with Rivers just 43 games into the season. This move was unexpected since Griffin had been dismissed just three days prior, but Rivers’ experience and track record make him a compelling choice for the role. The team is hopeful that Rivers will bring leadership and experience to help them contend for a championship.
According to www.Theathletic.com, Jon Hurst, Milwaukee’s general manager, stated that “Doc is a proven, extraordinary leader and communicator during his renowned NBA coaching career. As a championship coach, he’s widely respected as an established innovator, and the right coach to lead our experienced and talented team. I want to thank our owners, Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan, for their unwavering commitment to winning. It’s a pleasure to welcome Doc to the Bucks.”
The Bucks are in a prime position to contend for a championship this season, with a 31-13 record and two superstar talents in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Hurst had to find a replacement for Griffin that could keep the team moving toward its goal, and he believes that Doc Rivers is the best choice to lead the team toward a championship.
Hurst told reporters, “This is obviously a difficult decision, Adrian is a great person, brought a lot to the franchise. … But we also believe that we had an opportunity now with a special group — the talent on this team. The dynamic of the team has changed. The team itself had changed from when we hired him, and we felt we had an opportunity to improve and get better. We wanted to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Rivers has immense coaching experience, including an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and a 1,097-763 win-loss record across 24 seasons. His coaching success goes back to his time with the Orlando Magic, where he won Coach of the Year in 2000. He also has experience as a commentator for ESPN and previously worked with the 76ers before his return to coaching with the Bucks.
Mo Williams, JSU Head Basketball Coach and former NBA player weighed in on the move.
“I know both of them and coaches are hired to get fired. Adrian is good, as I know from experience as a player and coach, and I’m pretty sure he’ll land back on his feet. I don’t know what the situation with the team is because they were 30-13 before he got fired but it’s an organization and they’re trying to win a championship,” Williams stated.
Jackson State students expressed their shock at the Bucks’ decision to fire Griffin and hire Rivers as head coach.
“I don’t think it is going to impact them that bad they had a good season so far; I’m not going assume Doc is going to put them in a situation where they start losing and I don’t think it’s going to have a negative effect for them,” said Jayden Potts, a sophomore music technology major from Cincinnati, Ohio,
Darlington Ohazurike, a freshman electrical computer engineering major from Ridgeland, Miss., believes in Rivers record.
“Doc Rivers has a long history of coaching, and he is one of the 15 greatest coaches of all time and hopefully it works out well for the Bucks in the end,” Ohazurike stated.
The Bucks have made a bold move, and it remains to be seen how it will play out for the team.
