It is no secret that Doc Rivers’ journey to becoming the Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks has been blurry. However, we are here. With a 3-7 record in his first ten games, including a disappointing loss to an inexperienced Memphis Grizzlies team, Rivers emphasized post-game the need for the players to maintain focus.
During the All-Star break, Rivers spoke about the difficulties of taking over a team in the middle of the season. He also revealed to Clutch Points that he was consulted before James Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the NBA season.
J.J. Redick played under Doc Rivers for the Los Angeles Clippers for four years and believes it is time to see results. He is tired of Doc’s “excuses” and explained his frustration with his former coach’s recent comments on ESPN’s First Take this morning.
“I’ve seen the trend for years,” the former Duke Blue Devil told Stephen A. Smith.
Smith asked Redick what trend he was referring to. “The trend is he’s always making excuses, yeah Doc we get it. Taking over a team in the middle of the season is hard. We get it, just like getting traded in the middle of the season is hard for a player we get it. But it’s always an excuse, it is always throwing your team under the bus. They lose to Memphis ‘Oh it’s his player’s fault,’ Memphis was playing G-League guys and two-way guys. Then you look at his quotes over the weekend, now he wants to take credit for the James Harden trade to the Clippers working out. He wants credit for that, there’s never accountability with that guy.”
J.J. was stern and animated in his comments, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverly came to his Coach’s defense. Quoting the video on X, formally known as Twitter, stating that Doc ‘saved’ JJ’s career when he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013. J.J. responded, informing Beverly that he was dealt to the Clippers in a sign and trade and was deciding between the Clippers and another team.
This Man Doc actually saved your career. Started you when no one else wanted 2. And u retire go on TV and say that. @jj_redick
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) February 20, 2024
Pat my guy I had a four year offer with player option for the same money to be a starter for a different team. FOH “saved my career”. https://t.co/5lXowm2j8e
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) February 20, 2024
Why didn’t u take it then? U was comfy in your role with team. And don’t just say LA https://t.co/HXeennwGCW
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) February 20, 2024
In Reddick’s four years with the Clippers, he played 67 games on average every year in 29 minutes of play. There were a lot of minutes for a player that Doc Rivers saved. Averaging 16 points and often starting, it is hard to back up Beverly’s statement who was trying to come to the defense of his coach. It was probably a lot more wise to sit this one out.
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