Philly nice: Rivers next 76ers coach
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The 76ers have reached an agreement with Doc Rivers to become their coach.
Rivers reached a deal Thursday to become the latest coach to try and lead the 76ers to their first NBA championship since 1983.
Terms of the deal weren’t yet available.
Rivers takes over for Brett Brown, who was fired after the 76ers were swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Rivers parted ways with the Clippers about two weeks after the team wasted a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.
Rivers, 58, spent seven seasons with the Clippers, making the playoffs in six of them — major success for a oncewoebegone franchise. This season’s team, with the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul 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 also coached the Magic and Celtics, winning the NBA title with the Celtics in 2008.
The 76ers were 43-30 this season, underachieving when they were expected to be serious contenders in the East.
Brown was tasked with the leading the 76ers through a rebuild dubbed “The Process,” where management stripped the roster of serious NBA talent to lose games and increase their odds at better draft picks. Brown won only 47 games in his first three seasons, including a 10-72 record in 2015-16.
The philosophy paid off when the 76ers drafted Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who both became All-Stars and lead the team to two straight trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“They’ll handle it with professionalism, with understanding and a compassion towards not only ourselves and those people that have been affected, but also ... the Steelers.”
— Titans coach Mike Vrabel on his players’ reaction and approach after Sunday’s game against the Steelers was postponed until later this season due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Titans players and personnel