Doc Rivers fired following defeat against Celtics

Doc Rivers' tenure as the Philadelphia 76ers' head coach came to an end on Tuesday.

The Sixers fired Rivers after a crushing Game seven loss to the Celtics and another second-round exit, a team source confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.

"Doc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely," Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a statement.

"We're grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise. After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship."

Rivers delivered a 154-82 record in his three seasons, including 54 victories in 2022-23, the franchise's most since 2000-01.

The 61-year-old who delivered his 16th straight winning season as a head coach, lost for the 10th time in Game 7, including five in a row. The defeat to the Celtics also marked the ninth straight time that Rivers lost with a chance to reach the conference finals.

The Sixers were one of three teams in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

The American coach is not the first coach to get sacked this season as Philadelphia joins the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons among teams who have sacked their managers.

Rivers, 61, started coaching for the Orlando Magic in 2000 and won an NBA title as a coach with the Celtics in 2008.

His teams are 6-10 in playoff Game 7's, the most losses for any coach in NBA history. Rivers' teams are 17-33 in games where they had the chance to clinch a playoff series.

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