Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers put into perspective his career post-Boston Celtics, indicating that he does not see his lack of championship since 2008 a failure.
Rivers won his first NBA title as a coach in 2008 while part of the Celtics. It has been 16 years since then and he hasn’t won anything.
He went on to coach the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers and is now in his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Although he does not have a trophy to show despite being with teams projected as title contenders, he does not see those as failures.
“Come up short? What does that mean? Like, we didn’t win a title? I go back in Philly. I took that job after we lost in the first round 4-0 (to the Celtics in 2020 under Brett Brown),” he said in an interview with Bucks reporter Eric Nehm.
“The next year, we win the East in the regular season. All right. We are one game away from the Eastern [Finals].”
He is aware though that his job is being viewed through a microscope.
“So there’s times where I’m like we’re being evaluated on a different standard. And the great news is I’ve created that standard,” Rivers said.
Bucks have the ‘right group’
The Milwaukee Bucks exited the last season in the first round-up after dealing with injuries, including team superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Expectations will remain high for the Bucks but Rivers, who joined the team mid-season, feels bullish about the new season. He even described his current roster as the ‘right group’.
“I’m literally excited about the team,” he said. “I am so f—— engaged. I think we got the right group, I just do. And you know, again, as Bill Belichick said, we’re either going to land this f—— plane or we’re going to have a crash landing.
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