Doc Rivers' Top Landing Spots Following Reported Bucks Exit After Missing 2026 NBA Playoffs

Whatever the future holds for Doc Rivers after ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday that his time with the Milwaukee Bucks was over, coaching in college isn't an option.

"No, no, no. That's not gonna happen," he told reporters Sunday. "First of all, [new North Carolina head coach Mike Malone] is way younger than me. And secondly, that's a heck no. That's free agency every year. No thank you. No. Oh my God, no."

But what could be some options? Let's break it down

Sticking with the Bucks (as an Advisor)

According to Charania, "The Bucks will pay Rivers out on his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season. The franchise and Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization, sources said."

TV

Between his playing career and coaching career Rivers spent time as a broadcaster for TNT and ESPN, and television networks have reached out.

"Yeah, yeah," he confirmed Sunday. "I don't know (if I'm going to do it). I'm gonna wait and as I said the other day, I'm not gonna announce anything. But I gotta go to Grandparents' Day on the 21st. There's another Grandparents' Day on the 24th. I have something on my schedule right now that I need to do and I'm looking forward to doing."

Front Office Sports, however, reported that an ESPN reunion is unlikely:

Retirement

The Bucks had a brutal season, finishing 32-50 after Sunday's loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. The offseason efforts to put together a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo failed, the superstar forward is at odds with the organization and Rivers seemingly lost the locker room.

With everyone expecting the divorce between Rivers and the Bucks that came on Sunday, the coach said it made the regular-season finale a bit more emotional.

Especially because it's possible it will be the final game he coaches, period.

"Yeah, in some ways," he acknowledged. "I don't ever use that R-word (retirement) because you never know. I don't want to be [Muhammad] Ali and keep coming back. But yeah, it is (an emotional day). Kevin Eastman (who served as an assistant coach under Rivers in Boston and Los Angeles), some of my old coaches are here. So, it's cool."

He's also previously hinted retirement could be in the cards.

"I won't answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see," he told reporters Tuesday he said when asked how much longer he saw himself coaching. "I'll put it that way. And so I'll let you figure it out from there. I have seven grandkids now and they're all eight years and under and it kills me every time I miss Grandparents' Day with each one of them in school. It's probably time to go see them more, so I'll let you figure out the rest."

Rivers, 64, has coached the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Bucks in a 27-year coaching career, going 1,194-866 with 21 playoff appearances and one NBA title. If he calls it quits here, he's certainly had a long and distinguished career.

Another NBA Team

This one is a bit tough to imagine at this point. In parts of three seasons with the Bucks, Rivers was 97-102 and didn't win a playoff series. He hasn't gotten past the second round of the playoffs since the 2011-12 season, when he was leading the Celtics. Telling his own locker room to "Google" his accomplishments wasn't a great look.

Perhaps teams like the New Orleans Pelicans or Magic could take a gamble on Rivers, hoping he can get the most of the talent they have on hand. But recent results would suggest that the other options listed above are more realistic.