Doc Rivers Begins NBC Role and Revisits Giannis Remarks

Doc Rivers is moving from coaching to broadcasting after leaving the Milwaukee Bucks in April. He has joined NBC as an NBA analyst, with his first game assignment set for November 17: the Los Angeles Lakers against the Charlotte Hornets. His broadcast schedule is expected to grow after the NFL season ends, and he will also do studio work.

Rivers said he enjoyed appearing on an NBA studio program last week and hopes to take part in a format that covers several games at once. He said his experience coaching has convinced him he wants to stay connected to basketball without returning to the demands of coaching.

Discussing the Philadelphia 76ers, Rivers praised coach Nick Nurse for arranging the team’s talent effectively. He highlighted LeBron James’s willingness to take on a different role and said Philadelphia’s mix of stars and supporting players could sustain success through the season and playoffs.

Rivers coached the 76ers for three seasons before being dismissed in 2023. The team won regularly in the regular season but did not advance beyond the second playoff round. He said his lasting regret was that the team failed to deliver in several important games.

Rivers also clarified his recent comments about coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. He said he intended to praise the challenge of coaching a great player, but acknowledged he should have described Antetokounmpo’s court awareness as “feel,” rather than using the word “IQ.” Antetokounmpo had said he was speechless in response to the remarks.