The Milwaukee Bucks are moving on from Doc Rivers after three seasons, ending a rocky stretch that saw the franchise slide from championship expectations to the lottery.
According to ESPN, Rivers has been dismissed following Milwaukee’s 32-50 finish and the organization’s first missed postseason since 2016. The Bucks are now preparing for their third coaching search in as many years.
Rivers leaves Milwaukee with a 97-103 record, including back-to-back first-round playoff exits in 2024 and 2025 before this season’s collapse. The Bucks are still expected to pay Rivers the remainder of his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season, though discussions are ongoing about whether he could remain with the franchise in an advisory role.
The decision caps off a turbulent period for one of the NBA’s most recognizable franchises. Milwaukee won a championship under Mike Budenholzer in 2021, but the team has not won a playoff series since 2022.
Budenholzer was fired in 2023, Adrian Griffin lasted just 43 games despite a 30-13 start, and Rivers was brought in midway through the 2023-24 season after initially serving as an informal consultant.
Rivers went 17-19 after taking over for Griffin, then led Milwaukee to a 48-34 record in his first full season.
But this year unraveled quickly. Team sources told ESPN there was a growing disconnect between Rivers and the locker room throughout the season, with several players becoming frustrated by his approach.
After Milwaukee’s final loss of the season, Rivers acknowledged that the year never came together the way he had hoped.
“I always say I could do a better job,” Rivers said after Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. “We did a lot of things to improve a lot of the young guys. Unfortunately, that was the road that kind of presented itself for us.”
Injuries played a major role during Rivers’ tenure. Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared in only 36 games this season, while both Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard missed significant time during Milwaukee’s previous two playoff runs.
Even with the disappointing finish in Milwaukee, Rivers remains one of the most accomplished coaches in league history. The Hall of Fame-bound coach, who won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, ranks sixth all-time in regular-season wins and fourth in playoff victories.
