According to multiple reports including Fox Sports two days after their Game 7 defeat to the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers are moving on from their head coach.
BREAKING: The 76ers dismissed coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN. Rivers led the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in each of his three seasons on the job. pic.twitter.com/WM0t4LhrAz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 16, 2023
Rivers led the 76ers to their second straight 50-win season behind NBA MVP Joel Embiid but again failed to lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and were crushed in Game 7 on the road.
Rivers fell to 6-10 in Game 7s. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach.
Rivers and the 76ers also lost a decisive Game 7 at home in the second round to Atlanta in 2021 as a No. 1 seed. Embiid endorsed Rivers’ return following Sunday’s loss, but James Harden was noncommittal about wanting Rivers back.
Rivers had two years left on his contract and was 236-154 in three years with the Sixers. He won the 2008 NBA title as coach of the Boston Celtics.
.@stephenasmith reacts to the 76ers dismissal of Doc Rivers: pic.twitter.com/RC7cWG1hO0
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 16, 2023
and
Doc-Not again?
Us-#DamnDoc ??? pic.twitter.com/2CurxMVi61
— Lawrence Woodson (@Mr_MonStar_2_U) May 15, 2023
and
How Doc Rivers was in the locker room after the sixers got blew out by the Celtics in game 7 ???♂️? pic.twitter.com/3xxa4a6fNl
— Mark Phillips (@SupremeDreams_1) May 15, 2023
and
Doc Rivers about to join Dwight in Taiwan pic.twitter.com/83WelTXLi0
— SSB (@SSBKlutch) May 16, 2023