Less than 24 hours after firing first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, just 43 games into his tenure, the Bucks have their new head coach.
According ESPNThe Bucks have reached an agreement with Doc Rivers to become the franchise’s next head coach.
Rivers, a decorated head coach, leaves ESPN for Milwaukee after previous stops with the Magic, Celtics, Clippers and 76ers. With 1,097 career wins, Rivers is the ninth-winningest coach in NBA history.
But Rivers also carries with him a series of recent playoff failures. The last time Rivers reached the conference finals with the Celtics was in the 2011-12 season, and he failed to reach that round in seven seasons with the Clippers and three years with the 76ers.
Can he overcome that hurdle with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in Milwaukee, with the Bucks touting an impressive 30-13 record? The trip could begin Wednesday night, with Milwaukee set to host the Cavaliers in a pivotal matchup.
Jugo Mobile has all the information you need to know about when we might see Rivers on the sidelines.
Is Doc Rivers coaching the Bucks tonight?
As of early Wednesday afternoon, the Bucks had not yet officially announced the hiring of Rivers, who had been working with ESPN as an analyst. Therefore, it seems unlikely that Rivers will coach Wednesday night’s game against the Cavaliers.
After Griffin’s firing on Tuesday, Milwaukee named assistant coach Joe Prunty as the team’s interim coach. Although Prunty’s interim stint appears to be short-lived, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll coach the Bucks on Wednesday night.
Who is Joe Prunty?
Prunty, a longtime NBA assistant coach, is in the midst of his second stint with the Bucks. He joined Griffin’s staff in June.
Prunty previously served as Milwaukee’s interim coach in the 2015-16 season, when then-Bucks head coach Jason Kidd missed time while recovering from hip surgery. Prunty led the Bucks to an 8-9 record after they started the year 10-18 under Kidd.
Prunty, 54, has served as an assistant coach for eight different teams and was also the Hawks’ interim coach last season after Atlanta parted ways with Nate McMillan. The Hawks went 2-0 during Prunty’s tenure.
Bucks vs. Bucks start time Cavaliers
- Date: Wednesday, January 24
- Time: 8 pm ET | 7 pm central time
Bucks vs. Cavaliers will kick off around 8 pm ET on Wednesday, January 24. The game will be played at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What channel is Bucks vs. Cavaliers?
- Date: Wednesday, January 24
- tChannel V: Bally Sports Wisconsin, Bally Sports Ohio
Bucks vs. Cavaliers will not be broadcast on national television, but fans in the teams’ home markets can watch it on Bally Sports Wisconsin and Bally Sports Ohio.
US fans can watch all the biggest games of the 2023-24 NBA season on Sling.
Milwaukee Bucks 2023-24 Schedule
Here are the Bucks’ next five games of the 2023-24 regular season, with Rivers apparently set to debut within this window:
| Date | Adversary | Time (ET) | television channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 24 | vs. cleveland | 8 p.m. | Bally Wisconsin Sports |
| 26 of January | vs. cleveland | 8 p.m. | Bally Wisconsin Sports |
| January 27th | vs. New Orleans | 8 p.m. | Bally Wisconsin Sports |
| January 29 | in denver | 9 p.m. | Bally Wisconsin Sports |
| January 31 | in portland | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
