Former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick is fed up with the excuses made by Doc Rivers. The host of First Take unleashed his criticism towards his former coach on Tuesday morning, highlighting a trend he has observed for years. Redick emphasized that Rivers always finds excuses, particularly when taking over a team mid-season. He believes that Rivers consistently throws his team under the bus without taking any accountability for their performance.
Many have wondered why Doc Rivers has not been called out sooner, as he continues to receive a pass despite his shortcomings. It is mind-boggling that he was chosen to lead the Milwaukee team. While some may disagree, Redick’s assessment is spot-on. Rivers has repeatedly failed to deliver results despite having more talent than most other head coaches in the league.
Towards the end of the clip, Stephen A. Smith suggests that if Rivers fails in Milwaukee, it could mark the end of his coaching journey in the NBA. This is not surprising, considering Rivers’ inability to lead the 76ers further than their previous three years under a different coach. In the grand scheme of things, what has Rivers truly accomplished that Brett Brown couldn’t?
However, it is premature to claim that this is Doc’s last chance, considering the numerous opportunities he has had over the years. He has coached various teams, including the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. Despite being away from the sidelines, the Milwaukee Bucks brought him in as Adrian Griffin’s replacement, even though the team had a strong record at the time.
Throughout his coaching career, Rivers has worked with superstars such as Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey. Now, he has the privilege of coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Some coaches have all the luck.
Despite the impressive list of names, Rivers only has one championship ring to show for it. While one is better than none, other coaches would do anything to have had the opportunity to coach such talented players. It is worth noting that Redick and Pat Bev were also crucial members of Rivers’ teams. Redick’s criticisms were valid, even if Smith and Shannon Sharpe chose to ignore them.
As expected, someone came to Rivers’ defense after Redick’s tirade. It didn’t take long for Beverley to respond on Twitter, reminding Redick of how Rivers had saved his career when no one else wanted to give him a chance. Whether or not Rivers truly saved Redick’s career is irrelevant. Redick’s comments were not made for effect; they were a reflection of his long-held beliefs. By expressing his thoughts on live television, Redick was simply doing his job. Criticizing Rivers is not new, and Redick certainly won’t be the last to do so.
Unsurprisingly, Pat Bev took offense to Redick’s comments, leading to a social media feud between former teammates. Given their podcast platforms, this beef could continue for the rest of the week. While Beverley didn’t necessarily disagree with Redick, he felt that Redick was not in a position to criticize Doc. It’s another juicy sports media controversy.
According to the Source deadspin.com