Not long after the Bucks’ first 50-loss season since the Obama administration concluded in Philadelphia, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Doc Rivers is departing as head coach. Charania also reported that the Bucks will pay out the final year of Rivers’ contract in the 2026-27 season. Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic confirmed the change at head coach with team sources.
Considering how the season has gone, and the comments Doc made to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype when the Bucks traveled
to Brooklyn this past Tuesday, it’s not at all surprising to see this move. As of now, we don’t know if Rivers will take a front office role or whether he will take a break, with The Athletic’s report stating the following:
“The Bucks and Rivers are in talks about a possible role within the organization, team sources say, but Rivers appears very interested in taking a break. The veteran head coach hinted at another role over the last week and did so again after Sunday’s season finale in Philadelphia.
I can tell you we’re all on the same page… We’ve talked about it, and we want it out pretty quick. I just want them to do it, it’s better. But I think you guys pretty much know.”
Rivers coached an even 200 games for the Bucks since coming in with 35 games left in the 2023-24 season, finishing six games under .500 in that time (97-103). Due to poor coaching and untimely injuries, Milwaukee never found any postseason success with Rivers at the helm, losing in the first round twice to the Indiana Pacers in six and five games, and then failing to even make the play-in in 2026.
With this news, the Bucks will be paying three head coaches next season in Rivers, Adrian Griffin, and whoever they decide to take the helm. For those who may have forgotten, Milwaukee got out of paying Mike Budenholzer’s contract after the Phoenix Suns hired him in the 2024 offseason.
Speaking of the next head coach of the Bucks, there are already several options on the table. There is an in-house option to retain Darvin Ham, who was Rivers’ top assistant for the last two seasons after being fired as the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach. Milwaukee could also go with another former Buhdenholzer disciple, with The Stein Line reporting last Sunday that Taylor Jenkins—who was an assistant under Bud in the 2018-19 season—has already emerged as a “likely prime candidate” for the job. Another potential candidate is current interim head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, James Borrego, who interviewed for the Bucks’ head coaching gig before they hired Griffin.
This now adds another question mark for Milwaukee to answer this offseason, to go along with the looming question of whether Giannis will sign an extension this coming October and which, if any, of the five players with player options will return.
