Charles Barkley points to the Bucks’ players as one of the factors why Doc Rivers is leaving Milwaukee. (1:26)
Doc Rivers is out as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced Monday.
The Bucks will pay Rivers his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season, sources told ESPN, and the franchise and Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization.
The Bucks, meanwhile, will embark on their third head coaching search in three years.
"It has been an honor to have Doc as our coach and as a leader in our organization and community," Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan said in a joint statement. "In addition to his impact on the court, we're thankful for Doc's class and professionalism during his tenure in Milwaukee."
This starts a summer of change for the Bucks after Rivers went 97-103 during his three seasons in Milwaukee, with two first-round playoff exits and missing the postseason and play-in tournament this season.
"I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee," Rivers said in a statement issued Monday. "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. Milwaukee will always mean a lot to me, and this chapter will hold a special place in my heart."
Team sources said there was a seasonlong disconnect between Rivers and the players, including instances that annoyed the locker room.
"[The season] didn't go the way I wanted it to go, obviously," Rivers said after Milwaukee dropped to 32-50 with a loss to the 76ers on Sunday. "I always say I could do a better job. We could have had better health. We could have had all kinds of things. I'm not a big guy at looking back. All you can do is look forward. We did a lot of things to improve a lot of the young guys. Unfortunately, that was the road that kind of presented itself for us, and we did that."
Rivers took over as coach for the Bucks in late January 2024, replacing Adrian Griffin, who had gone 30-13 before being fired. Rivers guided the Bucks to a 17-19 mark to finish the 2023-24 campaign. Milwaukee went 48-34 in Rivers' first full season in 2024-25.
Rivers dealt with injuries to his top players in each season. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo missed time in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, and Antetokounmpo was healthy for just 36 games in 2025-26.
Rivers, who was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and led the 2007-08 Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, ranks sixth all time among NBA coaches in regular-season wins and fourth all time in career playoff victories.
The Bucks snapped a streak of nine consecutive postseason appearances this season. They have not won a playoff series since 2022.
Milwaukee won the 2021 championship under Mike Budenholzer, who was let go in 2023.
ESPN's Jamal Collier contributed to this report.
