Stephen A. Smith is known for always having a key comment about the things happening in sports. He rarely stays silent about the information he has, and that almost always sparks significant discussion afterward.
This past Wednesday, March 4, 2026, on the SiriusXM program he hosts on Mad Dog Sports Radio, he received a call from a listener who suggested that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant could be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the upcoming offseason.
Rather than remaining quiet about the topic, Smith went a step further and added a few additional remarks that gave the conversation an entirely different dimension.
It’s not gonna be Doc Rivers [coaching the Bucks next year] because Doc Rivers is gonna retire at the end of this season.
Doc Rivers has been coaching for close to 25 years. This is it for him. He’s gonna step away.
Stephen A. Smith’s comment about Doc Rivers could be true or not
Doc Rivers and the commentator shared a television set at ESPN during the 2023-24 season before the veteran coach left to take charge of the Bucks. However, since he arrived to lead the team, the experience has been far from successful.
Under his leadership, the franchise has posted a 91-88 record across two and a half seasons. In the postseason, their appearances have been short-lived, with the team being eliminated quickly after reaching the playoffs. For the current 2025-26 season, the possibility of contending for a championship already appears distant. At the moment, the Bucks hold a 26-35 record.
At the same time, rumors continue to circulate suggesting that Giannis Antetokounmpo could depart from the franchise once the season concludes. If that scenario materializes, the organization would once again face the need for a major restructuring.
Rivers still has a contract in place for next season, but he could ultimately decide that the time has come to retire. On the other hand, the team’s front office might determine that the situation has run its course and choose to move in a different direction by dismissing him.
It is worth remembering that, at 64 years old, the veteran coach has spent 27 years in the NBA, compiling an overall record of 1,188-851 during his long career on the sidelines.
The teams he has coached are:
- Orlando Magic
- Boston Celtics
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks
The last championship he captured in the league came in 2008, when he was serving as head coach of the Boston Celtics, leading the historic franchise to one more title in its storied history.
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