All 76ers

Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Quotes 76ers' Doc Rivers

Former Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden recently quoted Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers in a speech at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Justin Grasso

Doc Rivers might be a new face in Philadelphia, but the veteran head coach has been one of the most recognizable coaches in the NBA for years. The Philadelphia 76ers' 58-year-old coach has been in the NBA since 1983, as he played in the league for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs.

In 1996, Rivers wrapped up his playing career and started coaching a few years later with the Orlando Magic. Since 1999, Rivers has been an active coach, with stints in Orlando, Boston, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia. While Rivers' popularity has come from coaching, his speech regarding social justice this past summer allowed him to reach a broader audience for reasons other than basketball.

Sitting in front of a handful of reporters and cameras broadcasting over Zoom, Rivers delivered an emotional speech regarding social issues in the United States of America following the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rivers' speech lasted around nine minutes and went viral back in August.

His words were inspiring, to say the least. And recently, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate Joe Biden quoted the Sixers head coach during a speech at Gettysburg National Military Park this past week. 

“Doc Rivers, the basketball coach, choking back tears when he said, ‘We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. We’ve been hung. It’s amazing how we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back,’" Biden quoted. "I think about that. I think about what it takes for a black person to love America. That is a deep love for this country that has, for far too long, never been recognized."

On Wednesday afternoon, Rivers acknowledged Biden's speech. "I am honored that Vice President Biden chose my words as an example for needing social change. These are human rights issues that we are fighting for. Every American should want social justice for all, regardless of race, gender, or political beliefs. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on Twitter: @JGrasso_

Published
Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

Home/News