Doc Rivers now officially head coach of Milwaukee Bucks

Doc Rivers has been officially appointed the next head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, the franchise has said.

The Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday night they had hired Rivers to take over for Adrian Griffin, However, the Bucks fired Adrian on Tuesday after only 43 games.

Rivers played from 1980-83 at Marquette and he has retired Rivers’ No. 31 college jersey, reports AP.

Rivers said in a statement released by the team, “This is a great opportunity to come to a first-class organization with a team. It has a talented roster of high-character players.”

“It’s wonderful to come home to Bucks where at Marquette I came to know the game of basketball from Rick Majerus, Al McGuire, and Hank Raymonds,” said Rivers.

He also gives a special thanks to ESPN for his time there. He says he is truly grateful. Now, he is excited to get started with the Bucks.

The Bucks came up with the announcement in the final minute of their 112-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The organization was supposed to introduce Rivers at a Saturday news conference.

Before the Bucks hired Griffin last summer, he had never been a head coach, although he had 16 seasons of experience as an assistant.

On the other hand, Doc Rivers achieved an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Besides, his background as a head coach ranges almost a quarter-century.

Rivers owns a 1,097-763 regular-season record and 111-104 playoff mark in 24 seasons with the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2004, Celtics from 2004 to 13, Los Angeles Clippers from 2013 to 20 and Philadelphia 76ers from  2020 to 23.

Griffin’s staff assistant Joe Prunty had served as interim head coach for the Bucks’ last two games.