Asked directly during his end-of-season press conference whether Doc Rivers would be back in 2022/23 as the Sixers‘ head coach, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey provided a simple response, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com.
“Yes,” Morey said.
Rivers, who was hired by the Sixers during the 2020 offseason, has led the team to a 100-54 (.649) regular season mark in the past two years, but hasn’t gotten out of the second round of the playoffs. Philadelphia lost to the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals a year ago and to Miami in the same round this year.
There had been some speculation that Rivers could be on the hot seat for failing to lead the Sixers to at least the Eastern Finals, since the team had championship aspirations following its deadline deal for James Harden. Additionally, Rivers’ hiring preceded Morey’s arrival, so there was a sense that Philadelphia’s lead basketball executive may want to bring in his own coach.
However, Morey’s response today should quell that speculation for the time being. Prompted to expand on the decision to stick with Rivers, Morey had nothing but praise for the 60-year-old.
“I just think he’s a great coach and I love working with him,” Morey said (Twitter link via Neubeck). “… I think (general manager) Elton (Brand) and I and him make a great team, and we’re going to see where this journey takes us.”
Rivers reportedly still has three years and $24MM left on his contract, so it would have been expensive for team ownership to make a change at this point.
I’m ok with him returning unless Jay Wright wants the job
Or Nick Wright, but I think the lakers have eyes on him
These 3 are the most overrated in playoffs
GM Morey
Coach Rivers
Player Harden
Since most people on this message board trash all 3 of them, who are they overrated by?
Sam Cassell would be my pick
@13
I gotta believe Jay Wright needs to recharge his batteries!
If I were Doc Rivers, I’ll take the Lakers job next season
Salary $6m from 76ers and $6m from lakers
Why?
He is going to repeat the errors next season and 76ers may get knocked out in the first round
GMs won’t give him half of the clippers bench
Who says no?
Trade Idea:
Lakers get Doc Rivers, Harris and Green
76ers get Westbrook and 2027 top-5 protected First.
Lakers cut the check for Rivers and waive Green.
Philly fans say hell no….I imagine Morey does too. This might be your worst proposal and that is saying something
Doc Rivers could put 76ers in danger of losing the first round next year
Play in first round
Celtics
Bucks
Nets
Heat
What to do with James Harden…hmm.
If Doc remains the coach and Harden comes back, the rest of the NBA will rejoice.
Doc is the best worse coach. Regular season on point playoffs forget about it
Doc and Harden made Jimmy Butler play like Michael Jordan
Not good, Doc and Harden
Watch the game
Where is the defense on Butler?
Boston would have swept the 76ers
Must be great to have a GM that is content with the same results every season.
I don’t trust Moey, nor is Chris Paul
ESPN Perkins just said that he does not trust Morey and Harden
IMO
76ers are not able to win championships because of GMs 40%
Doc needs to improve 3 times in playoffs
They made some of the worst trades in the nba history
They should’ve did everything they could to keep jimmy butler, and that’s not hindsight
If it wasn’t for the Big 3 coming to Boston this guy would have never been heard from again.
Seriously. No one remembers this. He was on his last leg, embarrassed in the basketball community to the point where he would never get another pro job again. And boom the Big 3 came and now everyone can’t see that he sucks.
Been saying this for years
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
Keep Doc in place so we can enjoy his repeated failures and excuses year after year.
Maybe Morey should be the one leaving since he screwed up the Simmons trade when 76ers were playing better without Simmons or Harden. Funny how Morey could have received a great trade package for Simmons but instead gave up a lot to get rid of him.
In NBA circles, Morey and Doc are both made men, with all the accompaniments. So, neither will throw the other one under the bus or otherwise show him disrespect, particularly in response to a reporter’s question. If Doc leaves Philly, it won’t be by anything akin to a firing, but rather in an amicable manner that reflects the respect due his status, and, of course, amidst appropriate ceremony followed by Doc landing seamlessly in his next no-show job. It’s the way it’s done. So, Doc might still be out in Philly before the offseason is over. No way that’s been decided.
B I N G O
My friend who is the most biased Anti-Celtics guy said to me what an overrated coach he was. His tenure with the Clippers showed me that.
Vinny Del Negro coached the Clippers to a 56-26 record before being replaced by Rivers.
The next season only improved their win loss record by one game.
Moreyon and Harden both should be fired. He should of moved Ben at the draft. I told you then. I’m telling you now. He would of rebuilt team around Embiid. Warriors would of gave you both picks and Wiggins.
Just Wiggins and Kuminga mak s Sixers contenders for Years …….
Moreyon has never built a team. Only losing teams. His analytics suck ……
Can we just trade him? I honestly believe the team is just being cheap because of how much money he’s making and they already have one of the leagues highest payroll. Lakers seem to want him trade him to LA.
This is fantastic! I love seeing Philly failure!
I love Doc, but after the drama with Ben Simmons and Embiid, he needs to have a change of scenery, probably to a smaller market team (like the Hornets for example).
Roflmao
I hate the whole Philly organization aside from Danny Green. Doc is overrated. Harden is a lazy, selfish bum and Joel is all about himself too. Stop worrying about awards dude. You could have 5 MVP trophies sitting on a mantle in your mansion but if you don’t have a Chip to back it up nobody in this town gives a flying fart. Ownership needs to tear things down and start fresh. Just don’t go down the whole ‘Trust The Process’ trail again. Because that crap clearly dies not work if you don’t got the very best basketball minds running things that are worthy of that kind of trust. All Philly fans ended up with was a parade of horrible picks and missed opportunities.
I dont get what’s wrong with Embiid though…I also like that he is willing to say certain things. He seems pretty genuine.