NBA: Doc Rivers out after three years as Bucks head coach – report

Doc Rivers has been dismissed as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, according to an ESPN report published Sunday night.

Rivers had one year remaining on his $40 million contract, and the Bucks are expected to pay out the remainder of the deal. According to sources, the organization and Rivers are also discussing a possible transition into a front office role beginning with the 2026-27 season.

The Bucks struggled throughout the 2025-26 campaign, finishing with a 32-50 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Across parts of three seasons under Rivers, Milwaukee posted a combined record of 97-103. He took over in January 2024 after the firing of Adrian Griffin. At the time, the Bucks were 30-13, but under Rivers, they finished that season 17-19 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.

In the following season, Milwaukee went 48-34 during the regular season but again fell to Indiana in the first round of the postseason. The Pacers later advanced to the NBA Finals.

The 2025-26 season was also marked by reported tension between the organization and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo appeared in only 36 games but maintained he was healthy enough to play during the final stretch of the season.

Rivers, 64, is set to be inducted as a coach into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August. He just completed his 27th season on an NBA bench and holds a career coaching record of 1,194-866, ranking sixth all-time in wins. He led the Boston Celtics to the 2007-08 NBA championship.

A former 13-year NBA guard, Rivers began his coaching career with the Orlando Magic in the 1999-2000 season, where he was named NBA Coach of the Year after a 41-41 debut campaign. He later coached the Boston Celtics from 2004 to 2013, followed by stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and finally Milwaukee.

As a player, Rivers competed in the NBA from 1983 to 1996, spending time with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs.

— Field Level Media / Reuters