Doc Rivers and his staff will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars, the league announced on Saturday night. However, Rivers since revealed that he does not feel deserving of the honor, since he has only been with the Bucks for three games.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and his staff will coach the Eastern Conference in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/k5Ohpf9PNR
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 4, 2024
Rivers replaced Griffin, who was fired on Jan. 23 after leading the Bucks to a 30-13 record in his first season as a head coach. Griffin was widely praised for his work with the Bucks, especially with reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he was let go amid the team’s defensive struggles and reported rifts between him and his star player.
Rivers said he hopes the league will allow him to give his All-Star coaching spot to Griffin, as a gesture of respect and gratitude, and the fact that it was Griffin who led the team to the second seed in the Eastern Conference (top-seeded Boston Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t eligible to coach this year’s All-Star team, as he was head coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars in 2023).
“That is so ridiculously bad. I’m going to run that by Adam Silver.”
Doc Rivers: “That is so ridiculously bad.” He plans to give Adrian Griffin his All-Star ring and bonus. Rivers suggests sending his staff to Indianapolis and going on a beach vacation. “I’m going to run that by Adam Silver.” https://t.co/X3UDLZ6eWm
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 4, 2024
Rivers also said he plans on giving Griffin his All-Star ring and bonus, which are estimated to be worth around $100,000.
“I don’t need another ring or another bonus,” Rivers said. “I’ve been blessed enough in my career. I think Adrian deserves it more than me. He’s the one who got us here, and he’s the one who should be recognized for it.”
This would be the fourth time Rivers coaches at the All-Star Game. He previously coached in 2008, 2011, and 2021. The 2024 All-Star Game will take place in Indianapolis on Feb. 18. The Eastern Conference will be led by Antetokounmpo, who was voted as a starter and captain for the fourth consecutive year.
