Former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is headed into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, and his work helping the Celtics hang Banner 17 is no small part of the reason why. The onetime Boston coach opened up about the ties he still feels to the Celtics organization in a recent interview ahead of his induction to the Hoops Hall as a coach (h/t the "Boston Celtics on MassLive" YouTube channel), relating that nearly two decades later, "it's everything" to him.
"I wouldn't be here without Boston, without coming to Boston, without (former Celtics President of Basketball Operations) Danny Ainge and that believing in my coaching from the start," explained Rivers. "There's no way I would be here."
"Kevin (Garnett) and Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen)
and all those guys," continued the Celtics coaching alum, "listen, you see all these great team being put together and most people don't win with them and you need guys to buy in."
"And I had the Greatest group – those three guys in particular – because they were they were the Big Three," said Rivers. "They bought in to me, and I really believe that's why we had such quick success. When that all got together, people said we're going to have to wait a year, and then you'll have a chance."
"None of them believed that, neither did I. So all three of those guys, Kevin ... every coach should have a chance to coach a Garnett once in their lifetime, because just the way he goes about his business really helps you as a coach."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Doc Rivers shares what Boston Celtics mean to him ahead of Hall of Fame induction
