Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers out in Milwaukee. Is superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo next? - BERITAJA

The NBA regular play ended Sunday and the first bid of business for teams that fell short of making the playoffs was to measure their caput coach. Hall of Famer Doc Rivers, wasn’t spared the scrutiny.

He agreed to depart from the Milwaukee Bucks aft winning 16 less games this play than last. Rivers has 1 twelvemonth remaining connected the $40 cardinal statement he signed successful January 2024 and will beryllium paid for the last season.

The Bucks were 32-50 this play mostly because superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo played successful only 36 games because of injuries. Antetokounmpo, who expressed vexation talking to reporters Sunday, mightiness beryllium adjacent retired the door.

If so, the Lakers undoubtedly would beryllium interested. They are projected to person about $60 cardinal successful salary-cap abstraction and 3 first-round draught picks they could usage — 2026, 2031 and 2033 — to effort to make a woody this offseason.

Despite his insistence that he was patient reasonably soon aft he suffered a near knee hyperextension and bony bruise March 15, Antetokounmpo didn’t play successful the past 15 games of the season.

“To my understanding, I had to play 3-on-3 to beryllium capable to beryllium disposable to play,” he said. “I did that aggregate times. I’ve ne'er successful my life denied information of practice. Whoever came up pinch that is disrespectful toward what I’ve done for this squad and the measurement I transportation myself.”

The determination was apt made to guarantee the waste and acquisition worth of the two-time Most Valuable Player wasn’t diminished by different injury. Antetokounmpo, 31, is nether statement for 2026-2027 and has a subordinate action of $62.7 cardinal for 2027-28.

The Lakers — and different waste and acquisition partners — would beryllium much than consenting to springiness him an extension. The contracts of LeBron James ($52.6 million), Rui Hachimura ($18 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) expire aft this season, giving the Lakers the rate to flip successful Antetokounmpo’s direction.

The Bucks floundered without him and the coach paid the price. Rivers, 64, hadn’t had a losing afloat play since 2006-2007, a span that included an NBA title pinch Boston successful 2007-2008, seven seasons pinch the Clippers and 3 pinch the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I person genuinely loved my clip successful Milwaukee,” said Rivers, who played assemblage hoops astatine Marquette. “Coming backmost to wherever I sewage my start, to a metropolis that has ever embraced me, has been a privilege. I americium disappointed that things did not move retired the measurement immoderate of america hoped, but I americium profoundly grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community.”

Rivers began coaching aft a 13-year NBA playing profession and has a 1,194-866 grounds (.580) pinch 5 teams crossed 27 seasons. His regular-season wins are the sixth about successful NBA history and he will beryllium enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

The Bucks discussed pinch him an advisory domiciled successful the organization, but Rivers is taking his clip deciding what to do next. Asked really agelong he envisions coaching, Rivers mentioned his grandchildren.

“I won’t reply that, but I person grandkids that I want to see,” Rivers told reporters. “I’ll fto you fig it retired from there. I person 7 grandkids now, and they’re each 8 years and under, and it kills maine each clip I miss grandparents time pinch each 1 of them successful school. It’s about apt clip to spell spot them more, truthful I’ll fto you fig retired the rest.”

His 7 consecutive winning seasons pinch the Clippers are portion of the franchise’s existent streak of 15 consecutive seasons pinch a winning record, the longest progressive tally successful the NBA and fourth-longest successful convention history.

Other NBA coaches connected the basking spot see Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic and Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards. Portland Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter besides mightiness beryllium replaced.

Splitter took complete for Chauncey Billups, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving respective Mafia figures and astatine slightest 1 different ex-NBA player.