Less than 24 hours after firing first-year head coach Adrian Griffin just 43 games into his tenure, the Bucks have their new head coach.
According to ESPN, the Bucks have reached an agreement with Doc Rivers to become the franchise’s next head coach.
A decorated head coach, Rivers leaves ESPN for Milwaukee after previous stops with the Magic, Celtics, Clippers and 76ers. Boasting 1,097 career victories, Rivers is the ninth-most winningest coach in NBA history.
But Rivers also carries with him a slew of recent playoff failures. Rivers last made the conference finals with the Celtics in the 2011-12 season, failing to reach that round in seven seasons with the Clippers and three years with the 76ers.
MORE: Why the Bucks decided to hire Doc Rivers as Adrian Griffin's replacement
Can he get over that hump with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in Milwaukee, with the Bucks touting an impressive 30-13 record? The journey could start as soon as Wednesday night, with Milwaukee set to host the Cavaliers in a pivotal matchup.
The Sporting News has all the information you need to know about when we may see Rivers on the sideline.
Is Doc Rivers coaching the Bucks tonight?
As of early Wednesday afternoon, the Bucks had yet to officially announce the hiring of Rivers, who had been working with ESPN as an analyst. Thus, it appears unlikely that Rivers will coach in Wednesday night’s game against the Cavaliers.
After Griffin’s firing on Tuesday, Milwaukee appointed assistant coach Joe Prunty as the team’s interim coach. Though Prunty’s stay as the interim appears to be short-lived, it is reasonable to assume that he coaches the Bucks on Wednesday night.
Who is Joe Prunty?
Prunty, a long-time NBA assistant coach, is in the midst of his second stint with the Bucks. He joined Griffin’s staff in June.
Prunty previously served as Milwaukee’s interim coach in the 2015-16 season, when then-Bucks head coach Jason Kidd missed time as he recovered from hip surgery. Prunty steered the Bucks to an 8-9 record after they began the year 10-18 under Kidd.
The 54-year-old Prunty has served as an assistant coach for eight different teams, and was also an interim coach for the Hawks last season after Atlanta parted ways with Nate McMillan. The Hawks went 2-0 in Prunty’s tenure.
Bucks vs. Cavaliers start time
- Date: Wednesday, January 24
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CT
Bucks vs. Cavaliers will tip off around 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 24. The game will be played at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What channel is Bucks vs. Cavaliers on?
- Date: Wednesday, January 24
- TV channel: Bally Sports Wisconsin, Bally Sports Ohio
Bucks vs. Cavaliers will not air on national TV, but fans in the teams' home markets can watch on Bally Sports Wisconsin and Bally Sports Ohio.
Fans in the U.S. can catch all the biggest games of the 2023-24 NBA season on Sling.
Milwaukee Bucks schedule 2023-24
Here are the Bucks' next five games of the 2023-24 regular season, with Rivers seemingly poised to debut within this window:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 24 | vs Cleveland | 8 p.m. | Bally Sports Wisconsin |
| Jan. 26 | vs Cleveland | 8 p.m. | Bally Sports Wisconsin |
| Jan. 27 | vs New Orleans | 8 p.m. | Bally Sports Wisconsin |
| Jan. 29 | at Denver | 9 p.m. | Bally Sports Wisconsin |
| Jan. 31 | at Portland | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
