Insider debunks early reports about Bucks hiring Doc Rivers

Chris Haynes says the Bucks and Doc continue to work towards a deal.

Matthew Dugandzic | Jan 24, 2024

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Milwaukee Bucks

CNN Sports announced that the Milwaukee Bucks have picked Doc Rivers as their new head coach just hours after the dismissal of Adrian Griffin became official. The news were even announced on TNT's nationally televised "Inside the NBA."

However, this report turned out to be premature, with Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes debunking CNN's news about Griffin's successor.

No final agreement yet

Two top candidates have emerged as frontrunners — Kenny Atkinson and Rivers. However, Milwaukee seems to favor the latter.

According to Haynes, the Bucks and Doc remain in talks about a potential partnership after his three-season run with the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Milwaukee Bucks and Doc Rivers continue to work towards a deal that will make him the franchise's next head coach, but there is no agreement in place as of now, league sources tell," Haynes wrote.

The Bucks move one

Other than Rivers and Atkinson, former Atlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan and ex-ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy are also mentioned as potential candidates for the Bucks head coaching job.

That said, the organization has to play its cards right as their the the team's title hopes this season will be heavily impacted by their looming decision on who they pick to lead them from the sidelines.

In the meantime, the team moves on with interim coach Joe Prunty. They are going into tomorrow's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers as the No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 30-13 record.

Published Jan 24, 2024

MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.