Doc Rivers departs after three seasons as head coach of the Bucks.
Doc Rivers is leaving his position as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources informed ESPN on Sunday.
The Bucks will initiate their third search for a head coach in three years. The team will compensate Rivers for his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season. Discussions are ongoing between the franchise and Rivers regarding a potential transition to an advisory position within the organization, sources indicated.
This marks the beginning of a transformative summer for the Bucks after Rivers recorded a 97-103 record over three seasons in Milwaukee, which included two first-round playoff exits and a failure to qualify for both the postseason and play-in tournament this year.
Team sources reported a persistent disconnect throughout the season between Rivers and the players, with certain incidents causing discontent within the locker room.
Rivers assumed the coaching role for the Bucks in late January 2024, succeeding Adrian Griffin, who had achieved a 30-13 record before his dismissal. Rivers led the Bucks to a 17-19 finish in the 2023-24 season. Milwaukee posted a 48-34 record in Rivers’ first complete season in 2024-25.
Throughout his tenure, Rivers faced challenges with injuries to key players, as Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo both missed time during the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, and Antetokounmpo was available for only 36 games in the 2025-26 season.
Rivers, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and led the 2007-08 Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, ranks sixth in all-time regular-season wins among NBA coaches and fourth in all-time playoff victories.
The Bucks ended a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances this year. They have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2022.
Milwaukee secured the championship in 2021 under Mike Budenholzer, who was dismissed in 2023.
ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.
