Doc Rivers
The coach who led the 76ers to elite shooting efficiency before his departure in May 2023.
Doc Rivers served as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers through the 2022–23 season, marking his final campaign with the franchise. His tenure concluded on May 16, 2023, when the team officially fired him. During this specific season, the 76ers achieved significant statistical milestones, leading the entire NBA in both free throw percentage at 83.5% and three-point field goal percentage at 38.7%. The team successfully clinched a playoff spot on March 21, following a win by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Brooklyn Nets.
- Coaching Era
- 2022–23 (Final Season)
- Affiliation
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Status
- Fired on May 16, 2023
Lore & Background
Under Doc Rivers' leadership during the 2022–23 campaign, the Philadelphia 76ers displayed remarkable offensive precision. The team dominated league-wide efficiency charts, leading the NBA in free throw percentage at 83.5% and three-point field goal percentage at 38.7%. On March 21, the franchise secured its playoff berth after watching the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Brooklyn Nets. In the first round of the 2023 playoffs on April 22, Rivers guided his squad to a decisive sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, sealed by a 96–88 victory in the final game of that series.
In Their Own Story
The playoff run under Doc Rivers ultimately ended in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This marked the third consecutive season and the fifth time in six seasons that the 76ers were eliminated at this stage. The Boston Celtics delivered the final blow, defeating Philadelphia by a score of 112–88 in Game 7 of the series. Following this elimination, the front office made a decisive move on May 16, 2023, firing Rivers as head coach to close out his tenure with the team.
Reader's Guide
Doc Rivers' time with the 76ers concluded after the 2022–23 season ended in a Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics. Fans remember this specific run for the team's league-leading shooting percentages: 83.5% from the free-throw line and 38.7% from three-point range. The coaching staff secured a first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets on April 22, 2023, with an 88–96 road victory. However, the inability to advance past the Eastern Conference semifinals for the third straight year led to his dismissal on May 16, 2023.
Did You Know?
- The 76ers led the NBA in free throw percentage (83.5%) during Rivers' final season.
- Philadelphia also led the league in three-point field goal percentage (38.7%) that year.
- Rivers was fired on May 16, 2023, following a Game 7 loss to the Celtics.
- The team swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round with a 96–88 victory on April 22.