Doc Rivers Says He's 'Absolutely Retired' from NBA After Bucks Exit, Joins NBC for TV Role

Doc Rivers insists his coaching days are behind him as he prepares for a new role.

Joe Reedy of the Associated Press reported NBC announced Rivers will work as an analyst during the 2026-27 NBA season, and the former coach said he has no plans on returning to the sidelines.

"I honestly can say I'm absolutely retired," he said. "I had a long run. It ended up in the (Naismith) Hall of Fame (earlier this year) and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and play as long as I did. For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100% attention, which I'm really looking forward to."

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This will not be the first time Rivers works on the television side of the game.

He was with Turner Sports for three years in the 1990s and was also working with ESPN/ABC at the start of the 2023-24 campaign before he left to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I don't take a lot of breaks in my life," he said. "I've always been around the game and this is a way of keeping me there. When you think about it, I've played, I've coached, I've been in the front office, I've done TV, I've done about everything you can do in our game. And that gives me an interesting perspective and hopefully I can share that with the viewers."

Still, he is best known for his coaching.

Rivers has coached the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Bucks across 27 different seasons. His first season as a head coach was in 1999-00 for the Magic, and he was Milwaukee's head coach just last season.

His teams reached the playoffs in 21 of his 27 campaigns, including when he led the Celtics to the championship in 2008 and the NBA Finals again in 2010.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class and will continue working in the sport in a role away from the coaching world.