Soon after split with the Bucks at the end of the 2025/26 season, Doc Rivers said on the Bill Simmons podcast he would be “surprised” when he coaches another game. Rivers doubled down on his position Monday, per NBC Sports announced that he will join the network as a game analyst next NBA season.
“I can honestly say that I am fully retired” Rivers said Joe Reedy of the Associated Press. “I’ve had a long run. He’s in the Hall of Fame, and I’m very thankful that I was able to coach and play as much as he did. For the first time, I can focus 100% on television, which I’m really looking forward to.”
According to Reedy, after his playing career ended in 1996, Rivers turned down an offer from NBC to become an NBA analyst largely because of his interest in coaching. He did have brief stints with Turner Sports and ESPN as a broadcaster, but he spent most of the last three decades as an NBA head coach.
Rivers coached the Magic, Celtics, Clippers, Sixers and Bucks from 1999 to 2026, posting a 1,194-866 (.580) regular season record and a 114-112 (.504) playoff mark, and winning a title with Boston in 2008. The 64-year-old ranks sixth among all-time NBA coaches. in regular season wins and fourth in postseason wins.
As NBC noted in its press release announcing Rivers’ hiring, he has coached five former players who now work as analysts and commentators for the network: Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, Jamal Crawfordand his son Austin Rivers.
“With this opportunity, I thought I’d like to work with Austin. It would be a lot of fun to work with him.” Doc said to Reedy. “It’s funny when you think about half the staff, I was either coaching or a parent. I got into a fight with (NBC game analyst) Reggie (Miller)which is even funnier. So it’s really cool how connected I am with all the talent.”
NBC and Peacock will air 100 NBA regular season games in 2026/27, starting with an opening triple header October 20.
