Rivers out as Clippers coach
Doc Rivers would easily be considered the best coach in Clippers history.
Most wins. Most playoff appearances. Top winning percentage.
And nowhe’s out.
Rivers announced in a statement posted to Twitter on Monday that he’s not returning as coach. The move comes about two weeks after the Clippers wasted a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.
“Doc has been a terrific coach, an incredible ambassador, and a pillar of strength during tumultuous times,” Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer said in a statement. “He won a heck of a lot of games and laid a foundation for this franchise.”
The Clippers said Rivers and Ballmer came to the decision jointly.
Rivers spent seven seasons with the Clippers, making the playoffs in six of them — major success for a once-woebegone franchise. This season’s team, with the summer 2019 additions ofKawhi LeonardandPaul George, was expected to compete for a championship.
But losing three closeout opportunities to the Nuggets cost the Clippers a chance to play the Lakers in the West finals, and likely played a role in Rivers not remaining as coach.
Rivers went 356-208 over seven seasons with the Clippers.
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