Doc opens up about his decision.
Doc Rivers is done coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, and according to him, this was always going to happen.
The recently named Hall of Famer spoke with Andscape's Marc J. Spears this week and was very direct about his departure from Milwaukee after a miserable season.
"It wasn't a hard decision," Rivers told Spears. "It's probably on your mind your last couple years. It had nothing to do with the season or anything like that."
Rivers said the decision was "100 percent" his and that he told ownership a while ago. The Bucks announced his departure on April 13 after a 32-50 season that ended Milwaukee's nine-year playoff streak.
Rivers finished with a 97-103 record across two and a half seasons, including two first-round exits and this year's total collapse.
The Season Fell Apart Around Him
Rivers had been thinking about stepping away, and the 2025-26 season only confirmed what he already felt.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played just 36 games while dealing with multiple injuries and averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists when he suited up, but the team around him was not built to survive without him.
After losing Damian Lillard to a torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, Milwaukee waived him and tried to retool with Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma.
None of it worked, and the Bucks spent the year without a real second star while the drama around Antetokounmpo's uncertain future hung over everything.
Ryan Rollins stepped into the starting point guard spot and showed real promise with nearly 17 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game across 65 games, but one breakout year from a young guard was never going to save a season like this.
Rivers Should Stay Away From the Sideline
Rivers told Bill Simmons he would be "surprised" if he coached another NBA game, and that feels like the right call for everyone.
He is 64 with grandkids and admitted that after 26 straight years of coaching, he wants to enjoy life outside of basketball.
The bigger picture is that Rivers has not won a playoff series since 2020, and his postseason results over the last several stops have been rough.
He won a title with Boston in 2008 and earned his Hall of Fame spot, but the game has moved past him and the results in Milwaukee only backed that up.
Getting paid an eight-figure salary next season to not coach is a good deal, and Rivers should lean into retirement.
The Bucks are already moving forward with their coaching search, with Taylor Jenkins and Darvin Ham near the top of the list.
For Milwaukee, this is about getting the next hire right so they can keep Antetokounmpo from forcing his way out.
For Rivers, the smartest move is to enjoy the Hall of Fame induction in August and leave the sideline behind for good.