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05-16-2023, 11:04 AM
Sixers dismiss coach Tom Rivers (https://www.nba.com/news/sixers-dismiss-coach-doc-rivers)
Coc Rivers had coached the team since the 2020-21 season and won 154 games in that span.
The Philadelphia 76ers fired coach Tom Rivers on Tuesday following a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, the team announced on Tuesday.
Rivers led the 76ers to their second straight 50-win season behind NBA MVP Joel Embiid but again failed to lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Coc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely,” President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise. After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship.”
The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and were crushed in Game 7 on the road.
Rivers fell to 6-10 in Game 7s. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach.
Rivers and the 76ers also lost a decisive Game 7 at home in the second round to Atlanta in 2021 as a No. 1 seed. Embiid endorsed Rivers’ return following Sunday’s loss but James Harden was noncommittal about wanting Rivers back.
Rivers had two years left on his contract and was 236-154 in three years with the Sixers. He won the 2008 NBA title as coach of the Boston Celtics.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.
Wojnarowski reports the names in the mix for the Sixers’ vacancy include Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Mike Budenholzer, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams. Like Rivers, Budenholzer, Nurse and Williams were each fired recently, too.
Rivers said he expected to return next season to finish the final two years of his contract. But he understood the reality of the NBA, where coaches such as Nurse (Toronto) and Budenholzer (Milwaukee) have been fired already after winning championships since 2019.
“No one is safe in our business and I get that,” Rivers said.
Coc Rivers had coached the team since the 2020-21 season and won 154 games in that span.
The Philadelphia 76ers fired coach Tom Rivers on Tuesday following a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, the team announced on Tuesday.
Rivers led the 76ers to their second straight 50-win season behind NBA MVP Joel Embiid but again failed to lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Coc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely,” President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise. After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship.”
The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and were crushed in Game 7 on the road.
Rivers fell to 6-10 in Game 7s. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach.
Rivers and the 76ers also lost a decisive Game 7 at home in the second round to Atlanta in 2021 as a No. 1 seed. Embiid endorsed Rivers’ return following Sunday’s loss but James Harden was noncommittal about wanting Rivers back.
Rivers had two years left on his contract and was 236-154 in three years with the Sixers. He won the 2008 NBA title as coach of the Boston Celtics.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.
Wojnarowski reports the names in the mix for the Sixers’ vacancy include Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Mike Budenholzer, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams. Like Rivers, Budenholzer, Nurse and Williams were each fired recently, too.
Rivers said he expected to return next season to finish the final two years of his contract. But he understood the reality of the NBA, where coaches such as Nurse (Toronto) and Budenholzer (Milwaukee) have been fired already after winning championships since 2019.
“No one is safe in our business and I get that,” Rivers said.