Bucks Shake-Up: Doc Rivers Fired After Three Seasons in Milwaukee
Doc Rivers is departing as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, marking the team's third coaching search in as many years. His tenure was plagued by injuries to key players and a reported disconnect with the locker room, leading to two first-round playoff exits and missing the postseason this year. The franchise will pay Rivers through the 2026-27 season while exploring a potential advisory role for him.
Doc Rivers is set to depart as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, marking the franchise's third head coaching search in as many years. This significant change initiates a summer of transition for the Bucks organization. Rivers' tenure, which began in late January 2024 when he replaced Adrian Griffin, concludes with a combined record of 97-103 across three seasons.
Rivers initially took over from Griffin, who held a 30-13 record before his dismissal. Rivers guided the Bucks to a 17-19 finish in the 2023-24 campaign. His first full season, 2024-25, saw the team achieve a 48-34 record. However, despite these efforts, his time in Milwaukee was characterized by two first-round playoff exits. The most recent season, 2025-26, culminated in the Bucks missing both the postseason and the play-in tournament entirely, snapping a nine-year streak of playoff appearances.
Multiple sources close to ESPN indicated a season-long disconnect between Rivers and his players, leading to reported locker room frustrations. Rivers himself acknowledged the team's performance, stating after a 32-50 loss to the 76ers that the season