


It doesn’t look like Doc Rivers will be on an NBA sideline to start this season, and he seems just fine with that.
The longtime coach, who has been employed for at least part of every season since 1999-2000, was fired by the 76ers following the team’s playoff loss to the Celtics.
Since then, the 61-year-old’s focus has been on enjoying himself.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” Rivers told TMZ in a brief interview. “I’m just gonna enjoy life.”
With the coaching carousel complete, it looks all but certain that Rivers won’t have a job to start the year.
After ESPN surprisingly let go of top analyst Jeff Van Gundy, Rivers would be a logical candidate to work in the broadcast booth.
Rivers worked the 2004 Finals for ABC as he was between jobs, but was hired by the Celtics to coach the next season.
Rivers went on to win the 2008 title in Boston but has only been back to the Finals once since, losing to the Lakers two years later.
Despite having constant regular season success with the Clippers and Sixers, Rivers could not get either team over the hump despite championship expectations in both jobs.
Things went downhill in Philadelphia over the last few years as Ben Simmons’ situation blew up, culminating in a trade to Brooklyn.
Rivers also cited the organization’s sensitivity to media as a reason for its struggles on a podcast appearance with Bill Simmons.
“Very media — um — alert is the word I’m using,” Rivers said. “Sometimes you can’t worry about that. You just got to do your job and worry about the basketball part. And not the reaction to everything that happens.”
What’s next for him is unclear, but given Rivers’ record — he’s ninth all-time in coaching wins and behind only Gregg Popovich among active coaches — he would be a logical candidate for any team to call during the season.
At the moment, that doesn’t seem to be on his mind.
He told TMZ simply that he’s having a “phenomenal” summer.