Doc Rivers has developed one of the most polarizing reputations among head coaches. He's won a championship, reached the NBA Finals twice, and later guided the LA Clippers to the most fruitful chapter in franchise history, but a second-round ceiling has made the Milwaukee Bucks leader a questionable fit for a once star-studded team.
For as divisive as Rivers' ability to win as a heavy favorite may be, his uncanny ability to help underdogs overachieve could be exactly what the Bucks need in 2024-25.
Milwaukee has endured a brutal six months. It parted ways with three-time All-Star Khris Middleton in February after 12 years, bid farewell to Damian Lillard mere months after he tore his Achilles tendon, and heard endless rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo would soon be leaving.
Antetokounmpo has committed to the Bucks for another season, however, and offseason addition Myles Turner projects to give Rivers new options on both ends of the floor.
Unfortunately, Milwaukee hasn't exactly fielded a roster that has analysts believing a championship is in their future. It's by no means poor, but it effectively boils down to questions about the quality of the role players in place and whether or not Kyle Kuzma can bounce back from a dreadful postseason.
The odds may not be in the Bucks' favor, but Rivers has a knack for getting the most out of teams that aren't necessarily expected to win.
Doc Rivers has a strong history with underdogs
Rivers has won 1,162 regular season games and 114 postseason outings during his 26 seasons as a head coach. That process began in 1999-00, when the Orlando Magic lost Penny Hardaway to the Phoenix Suns in free agency and still managed to go 41-41 with a depleted roster and 11 players shuffling in and out of the starting lineup.
When Rivers took over as head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2004-05, he helped the team improve its win total by nine games despite having Antoine Walker for just 24 outings.
Rivers again worked his magic in 2013-14, when Chris Paul missed 20 games, JJ Redick was absent from 47, and an already top-heavy rotation appeared as though it'd be lost at sea. Instead, the Clippers won 57 games and Rivers helped Blake Griffin finish third in MVP voting.
Even the Philadelphia 76ers overachieved under Rivers, going 51-21 in 2019-20 despite Joel Embiid missing 21 games and Ben Simmons sitting for 14.
Two years later, Embiid missed 16 games, James Harden was sidelined for 24, and Tyrese Maxey was out for 22. Philadelphia still managed to go 54-28—including an 11-5 record when Embiid didn't play. The key then was the same as it's always been with Rivers: His teams doubled down on defense.
Of the teams mentioned, only the 2004-05 Celtics ranked outside of the top 10 in defensive rating—and even then, they were in the top half of the NBA at No. 14.
Bucks can overachieve by doubling down on defense
Rivers certainly has the interior personnel to emulate that success in 2025-26. Antetokounmpo is a former Defensive Player of the Year, Turner is a two-time league leader in blocks, and Bobby Portis should benefit from playing against an athletic center who can permit him more time at the 4.
Question marks exist all over the perimeter, but perhaps the Bucks can harness Turner's rim protection to allow Antetokounmpo to more comfortably anchor efforts elsewhere.
It wouldn't be the first time that a generational talent has taken a defensive-minded team to the playoffs–or perhaps even flirted with 50 wins. In a depleted Eastern Conference that's expecting drop-offs from the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, it's fair to believe the door is wide open for Rivers and the Bucks to run through.
Winning in the playoffs is another story entirely, but Rivers is uniquely qualified to help the Bucks overachieve—and perhaps position them to make a meaningful in-season trade.