Doc Rivers Almost Turned The Celtics Head Coaching Job Down?
The Boston Celtics are currently a juggernaut. They’re arguably the best team in the NBA and have a real shot to raise Banner 18 this season. The last time Boston won an NBA championship was way back in 2008 when Doc Rivers was the coach.
A fascinating story recently came to light on in an upcoming episode of “KG Certified” with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Rivers explains that he very nearly turned the Celtics head coaching job down. After being fired by the Magic, Doc initially wanted to take time for himself. That was until Danny Ainge called.
“I was gonna turn down the Celtics job,” Rivers told Garnett and Pierce. “I had just left Orlando … I wanted a year, and Danny calls me and said, ‘Hey can we talk?’”
Ainge brought H. Irving Grousbeck, Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca, with him for the meeting with Doc.
“He comes in, and we’re sitting there, and I’m like, there’s a boss move,” Rivers explained.
I’m sure Rivers is happy with the choice he made. It’s the only championship Doc has. Doc considers that Celtics run the best years of his life. Which I guess isn’t surprising considering the mess that he dealt with in Los Angeles with the Clippers and in Philadelphia with the James Harden fiasco.
Does the 2008 Title happen without Doc? I guess we’ll never truly know. Either way, the 2008 team will always be remembered fondly in the city of Boston and Doc was a large part of their success.
Doc is still involved in the game despite the fact that he’s not coaching anymore. The C’s former coach is currently a broadcaster for ESPN.
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