Doc Rivers Departs Milwaukee Bucks After Injury-Plagued Campaign Ends Nine-Year Playoff Streak

Doc Rivers is moving on from Milwaukee. The veteran head coach announced his resignation Monday, one day after the Bucks wrapped up a 32-50 season that ended the franchise's remarkable nine-year run of consecutive playoff appearances.

Rivers, 64, took over the Bucks mid-season in 2023 and guided them to 97 wins across two and a half campaigns. But this year proved different. Plagued by injuries throughout the roster, Milwaukee never found consistent traction, and the team's struggles were compounded by Rivers' induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame — a honor that seemed almost bittersweet given the circumstances.

"I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee," Rivers said in a team-issued statement. "Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege. I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community."

Team owners Wes Edens, Jimmy Haslam, Dee Haslam and Jamie Dinan expressed their gratitude in a separate statement, praising Rivers' class and professionalism throughout his tenure. The release did not specify whether Rivers might retain any organizational role going forward.

Rivers leaves with an impressive 1,194-866 career record, having overtaken George Karl this season for sixth place on the NBA's all-time coaching wins list. His departure marks a significant transition for a franchise now tasked with rebuilding contention without the continuity that defined the past decade.

The timing hardly seemed coincidental. Rivers had hinted throughout the season's closing weeks that family was calling him elsewhere. "I have seven grandkids now and they're all 8 years and under," he said before an April 7 loss at Brooklyn. "And it kills me every time I miss grandparents' day with each one of them in school. And it's probably time to go see them more."

Milwaukee now faces an uncertain summer as it attempts to regroup and restore the winning culture that eluded them in this most recent campaign.