Doc Rivers Reflects on Coaching the Celtics to a Championship Ahead of Hall of Fame Induction: ‘I’m a Boston Celtic’ originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Doc Rivers’ coaching career has had its ups and downs over the years, from championship wins to disappointing seasons. He became a standout coach who helped evolve the game, starting with his first head coaching gig with Orlando in 1999.
What people remember most is his time with the Celtics, revitalizing the team and leading them to two NBA Finals, winning one. His tenure there helped immortalize his leadership, as he enters the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
Rivers coached the Magic from 1999-2003. He joined the Celtics in 2004, bringing the team to the playoffs his first season. With the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008, joining Paul Pierce, Rivers and the Big Three brought gold to the Celtics for the first time since 1985-86.
“The thing that I love the most about that 2008 team, and I still challenge people today, to find a team that played that hard for 82 regular-season games and through the playoffs as we did,” Rivers told The Boston Globe.
Outside the Big Three, that team included Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, and a young Rajon Rondo. The Celtics attempted to win another title two years later, but the Lakers took home gold.
Rivers' run with the team came to an end following a trade with the Clippers. In nine seasons with the Celtics, Rivers had a 416-305 record, adding to 1,194 overall wins. Coaching the Clippers, 76ers, and Bucks after his run in Boston, Rivers ranks sixth all-time in regular-season coaching wins and fourth in the postseason.
Through the ups and downs, one constant remained: a championship win with the Celtics. Rivers’ impact with the team can never be forgotten, and it's a team he holds close to his heart.
“I’m a Celtic,” Rivers said. “I’ll never not be. I coached there the longest, for nine years. I won the title, and if someone asks me what I am, I’m a Boston Celtic. I don’t think it’s close. I’m connected with the city. The team connected with the city.
“Listen, I’m biased, but maybe New York … but I don’t know … if you can pick the 30 franchises, and then you pick where you want to win at, it’s hard to beat Boston.”
Doc Rivers coaching stats with Celtics
| Stat | Rivers |
| Seasons | 9 |
| Games | 721 |
| Wins | 416 |
| Losses | 305 |
| W/L % | .577 |
| Playoff Wins | 59 |
| Playoff Losses | 47 |
| Playoff W/L % | .557 |
| NBA Finals Appearances | 2 |
| NBA Finals Wins | 1 |
Basketball Hall of Fame 2026 induction ceremony date, start time
- Date: Saturday, August 15
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 15. The event will be held at Symphony Hall in Springfield.