Doc Rivers has stepped down as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, ending a 2 1/2-season spell that included back-to-back first-round play-off exits and the club’s first missed post-season since 2015, the team confirmed on Monday.
The announcement followed reports on Sunday that Rivers was not expected to return after the 2025-26 NBA regular season, which the Bucks finished with a 32-50 record and 11th place in the Eastern Conference, bringing their run of nine straight play-off appearances to a close.
Across Rivers’ tenure in Milwaukee, the Bucks went 97-103 in regular-season play. Both of the last two campaigns ended the same way, with first-round defeats against the Indiana Pacers, underlining how the team slipped from recent title contention
to early play-off exits and finally out of the play-offs altogether.
This 32-50 season represented a clear step back for a roster built around Giannis Antetokounmpo, especially in a conference where Milwaukee had been a regular top-four seed. The team’s slide also made Rivers’ position increasingly uncertain as the season progressed and pressure grew around results.
The campaign was unsettled for reasons beyond results, as Rivers entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame while the Bucks handled injuries and off-court noise involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose name surfaced in trade rumours before the deadline and who appeared in only 36 games because of various physical issues.
After the season ended on Sunday, Antetokounmpo said personal fitness was not the main problem during the final stretch, stating that Antetokounmpo was healthy enough to feature in recent weeks and felt that the decision by Milwaukee to rest Antetokounmpo late in the schedule showed disrespect.
Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks history and NBA coaching milestones
This was the first time Rivers completed a full season with a losing record since 2006-07, when Rivers went 24-58 leading the Boston Celtics, before guiding that franchise to the NBA championship in 2007-08, and Rivers now holds a career play-off mark of 114-112 across all stops.
Rivers has also coached the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, building a 1,194-866 regular-season record, and on December 29 Rivers passed George Karl to move into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list, a significant landmark that came during Rivers’ time with Milwaukee.
Rivers reflected on the departure by thanking the organisation and city, saying, "I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee. Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege. I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community. Milwaukee will always mean a lot to me, and this chapter will hold a special place in my heart. "
Doc Rivers has stepped down as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. pic.twitter.com/yjesvLVPOWMilwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 13, 2026
Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy Haslam, Dee Haslam and Jamie Dinan praised Rivers’ conduct in their joint statement, which read, "It has been an honor to have Doc as our coach and as a leader in our organization and community. In addition to his impact on the court, were thankful for Docs class and professionalism during his tenure in Milwaukee. "
With Rivers departing after a losing season and a strained year surrounding Antetokounmpo’s availability, the Bucks now face a key coaching hire and strategic reset as the franchise seeks to return quickly to the top of the Eastern Conference and re-establish regular deep play-off runs.
