Milwaukee Bucks and Doc Rivers Part Ways

It’s been a disappointing season for the Milwaukee Bucks, who were hoping to get back into the thick of the race in the Eastern Conference.

Instead, they finished 11^th the East with a 32-50 record, and have more questions than answers heading into the offseason. One of those uncertainties involve who will lead them on the bench, as the organization and head coach Doc Rivers have parted ways.

In a little under three seasons with the Bucks, Rivers compiled a 97-103 combined mark. Prior to this season, Milwaukee made the playoffs but lost in the first round in each of the last two years.

BREAKING: Doc Rivers is departing as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. After a 32-50 season, the Bucks will embark on their third coaching search in the last three years. pic.twitter.com/s6YZXKcTi5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 13, 2026

“(The season) didn’t go the way I wanted it to go obviously,” Rivers said after Milwaukee’s final game of the campaign. I always say I could do a better job. We could have had better health. We could have had all kinds of things. I’m not a big guy at looking back. All you can do is look forward. We did a lot of things to improve a lot of the young guys. Unfortunately, that was the road that kind of presented itself for us, and we did that.”

Rivers’ hire midway through the 2023 season was viewed as a championship or bust move for the Bucks, who elected to fire new head coach Adrian Griffin after he went 30-13 in his first 43 games.

Despite being ousted from the head coaching seat, there’s a possibility that Rivers could remain with the organization in some capacity. An advisory role could be viable for the former championship head coach.

The Bucks were the fifth team Rivers coached in his NBA career. He’s served in the same capacity with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. His career record stands at 1194-866.

It’ll be interesting to see if the 64-year-old Rivers has any interest in coaching again. In addition to the possibility of becoming a consultant, it may not be surprising for Rivers to pursue a job in the media. He was working for the NBA on ESPN as a color commentator before accepting the Bucks’ head coaching job in the middle of the 2023-2024 campaign.

The Bucks’ search for a new head coach immediately becomes one of the more fascinating storylines heading into the NBA offseason. Milwaukee’s window to make a run for another championship this decade appears to have closed, and the future of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is also extremely muddy.

An NBA spokesperson in response to its Milwaukee Bucks-Giannis Antetokounmpo investigation: “The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute. The investigation has found that the…

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026

There’s been a lot of inconsistency and smoke behind the scenes regarding the Bucks’ handling of Antetokounmpo down the stretch of this season. The perennial All-Star has made public statements claiming that he was healthy enough to play, but Milwaukee held him out of the lineup as it became clear that they would not be able to make a run for the East’s play-in spots.

Additionally, trade rumors have swirled around Antetokounmpo and the Bucks for much of the season, as a potential breakup appears more likely than it’s ever been before.