Doc Rivers Steps Down as Bucks HC After Missing NBA Playoffs, How Much Money Is Left on Contract?

After missing the playoffs in 2025-26 for the first time in 10 years, Doc Rivers is out as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rivers officially stepped down on Monday, as he noted he was "deeply grateful" for the experience:

ESPN's Shams Charania had reported on Sunday that Rivers wouldn't return as the Bucks' head coach after finishing up his second full season in the job.

Charania noted the two sides are discussing whether Rivers will remain with the organization in an advisory role.

Bucks general manager Jon Horst was vague about Rivers' future in an April 8 conversation with The Athletic's Eric Nehm:

"I don't actually know exactly where the records were, the seedings, but we've had very good teams every year, except for this year, that had a real chance going into the playoffs. The last couple years, one before him and two with him and then this year, injuries have gotten us. That's just the tip of other things he and I have had to manage together. He's been an unbelievable partner in managing those things, and I've enjoyed working with him. I value his input. I don't know the outcome; we're gonna figure it all out. I think we'll figure it all out pretty quickly and what that looks like going forward."

Rivers originally joined the Bucks in December 2023 as a consultant to then-head coach Adrian Griffin.

In the aftermath of Griffin's firing in January 2024 and a brief three-game interim stint by Joe Prunty, Rivers was named Milwaukee's full-time head coach. The Bucks closed the regular season with a 17-19 record, but earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

A calf injury kept Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the Bucks' entire series with the Indiana Pacers. Damian Lillard also suffered an Achilles injury that kept him out for two games. Milwaukee was eliminated in six games.

A disastrous start to the 2024-25 season made it uncertain that Rivers would last very long. The Bucks were 2-8 after 10 games before they caught fire, going on to win the NBA Cup by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the title game.

Milwaukee went 46-26 after that initial 10-game start to earn the fifth spot in the East and another playoff matchup with the Pacers. This one went even worse than the 2024 series, with Lillard suffering a torn Achilles in Game 4.

The Bucks were eliminated in five games, with Game 5 featuring one of the most improbable collapses in playoff history. They led by four with 52 seconds remaining in regulation and by seven with 39 seconds left in overtime before losing 119-118.

A third straight first-round playoff exit left the future of the Bucks in a state of flux. Antetokounmpo declined to address his future in Milwaukee immediately after the Game 5 loss.

The trades for Lillard and Jrue Holiday have depleted the Bucks' future assets. They don't have control of their first-round draft pick until 2031.

Antetokounmpo remains in Milwaukee at this point, but who knows what the future holds amid his rift with the organization over his desire to play in games down the stretch. The organization's short-term outlook seems bleak given where things appear to stand with Antetokounmpo and the lack of draft capital.

Rivers' exit means the Bucks will be looking for their fifth different head coach since the 2022-23 season if you include Prunty's interim stint.

Rivers finished his tenure in Milwaukee with a 97-103 record in the regular season and no playoff series wins.