Sixers' Doc Rivers Named NBA's Coach of the Month

Rivers is off to a hot start with the Sixers.

Justin Grasso | Feb 1, 2021

Everything is working out well for the Philadelphia 76ers so far this season. While it hasn't been a perfect start to the season (when is it ever?), Philly has seen lots of success early on this year after a rather disappointing season last year.

A lot of that has to do with the new head coach, Doc Rivers. After parting ways with Brett Brown back in August, the Sixers went on an extensive search for a new head coach. During the process of seriously considering hiring several top candidates, Doc Rivers became available.

Right then and there, the Sixers relentlessly pursued Rivers and had him hired within a week. A little more than one month into his first season as the Sixers' head coach, Rivers is proving that the 76ers made the correct call by hiring him.

Not only do several Sixers players look much more improved on a personal note, but the team as a whole has been quite successful. Through 21 games, the Sixers achieved a record of 15-6. That's good enough to be two and a half games in front of the Eastern Conference's second seed, the Brooklyn Nets.

While personal accomplishments less than two months into the season aren't exactly on anybody's minds in Philly, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers has still earned himself the right to be called the Eastern Conference's Coach of the Month, according to the NBA.

The announcement marks the 12th time Rivers has earned the monthly award, and it's his first since November of 2018.

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

Published Feb 1, 2021

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