Doc Rivers had already hinted that his coaching career was at the tail end even before being fired by the Milwaukee Bucks, but just in case anyone remained doubtful, he has taken care of clarifying it. The coach has decided to swap the benches for a commentator’s chair and has reached an agreement with NBC to work as an analyst for the upcoming season, and when asked whether this marks the end of his previous phase, his answer could not be clearer.
Doc Rivers joins NBC Sports as NBA game analyst.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) September 21, 2026
“I can confirm that I am completely retired,” he said in remarks to The Associated Press. “I have had a very long career and I’ve reached the Hall of Fame, so I’m very grateful to have had the chance to coach and play as much as I have. Now, I’ll be able to focus 100% on television for the first time, something I’m looking forward to.”
Rivers thus closes a career that began in 1999 and that led him to coach a total of 2,286 games, placing him sixth in regular-season wins (1,194) and fourth in playoff wins (114). His peak came in 2008, when he led the Boston Celtics to the championship, and although since then his career has not been free of doubts and criticisms, the numbers with which he ends are within reach of very few.
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Now, he will have the opportunity to return to work with the network with which he has already collaborated on occasion, including at the start of the 23-24 season before accepting a post with the Bucks. It is, moreover, a network for which several of the players Doc has coached throughout his career, including his son Austin Rivers, also work as analysts.
“One of the things that attracted me to this opportunity is the fact that I would love to work with Austin. It would be a lot of fun,” he admitted. “It’s curious to see half of the network’s staff and know that I’ve trained them or that I’m even their father. I also had a clash with Reggie Miller, which is even funnier. It’s great to feel so connected to all this talent.”
