After leading the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons, head coach Doc Rivers has been fired.
The Clippers had yet another disappointing playoff performance, losing to the Denver Nuggets in the second round in humiliating fashion after being up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Rivers came to the Clippers in 2013 via a trade in which the Boston Celtics sent him to Los Angeles in exchange for a first-round pick. Rivers turned a struggling franchise into a perennial playoff team, taking the Clippers to the postseason in six of his seven seasons with the team.
However, the team could never make it to the Western Conference Finals, despite having talented rosters year after year. The Clippers were favorites to represent the Western Conference in the finals this year after picking up reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and pairing him with All-Star Paul George.
Instead, the team proved to be dysfunctional, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets and effectively ending Rivers’ tenure with the team.
The collapse obviously can’t be blamed on Rivers entirely, and most NBA teams are very aware of that. Rivers should have no problem finding another head coaching job quickly.
According to reports, the 76ers and Pelicans have already reached out and shown interest in hiring him.
