Doc Rivers is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, and it's only fitting that the players who helped him achieve enshrinement are set to honor him during his induction on Saturday, August 15.
The former head coach of the Boston Celtics was in Beantown for nearly a decade, with the highlight of his tenure coming in 2008 via an NBA title. The stars of that team, dubbed "The New Big Three," included Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Pierce and Garnett were already listed as presenters for Rivers' Hall of Fame ceremony, but Allen has reportedly rounded out the group of Green Teamers, per Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Doc Rivers loved seeing his former players attend Ring Night. He even said Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett,
and Ray Allen all texted him the picture of them together: “I think they were trying to tell me, ‘Hey look at us, we all get along!’” pic.twitter.com/QesVyl1b0F
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) October 28, 2024
Although Rivers, Pierce, Garnett, and Allen were all part of the 2008 title team, there was some discord among them in the post-championship years — especially when Allen left Boston in 2012 to join the rival Miami Heat. However, the aforementioned animosity seems to have faded, as every member of The Big Three was at TD Garden in October of 2024 to celebrate the Celtics capturing their first title since 2008.
As for Rivers, he went on to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and, most recently, the Milwaukee Bucks. He never reached the level of success he had in Boston at any of his other coaching stops and retired following the 2025-26 regular season.
Despite a rocky finish to his coaching career, Rivers is still headed to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, just a few hours away from where he cemented his legacy alongside the legendary players (and fellow Hall of Famers) who will officially induct him.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Ray Allen plans to reunite with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett for Doc Rivers HoF enshrinement
