Doc Rivers joins NBC as analyst, says coaching career over - ESPN

Doc Rivers turned down an offer to become an NBA analyst for NBC after retiring as a player in 1996 because he couldn't promise then-NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol that he wouldn't become a coach.

With Rivers now insisting that his Hall of Fame coaching career is over, the time seemed right for him to join NBC.

The network announced Monday that Rivers will be an analyst on games this season across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, along with the possibility for some studio work.

«I honestly can say I'm absolutely retired,» Rivers said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. «I had a long run. It ended up in the [Naismith] Hall of Fame [earlier this year], and I am so thankful that I was able to coach and played as long as I did. For the first time, I can focus on giving TV my 100% attention, which I'm really looking forward to.

»I think I've always been pretty honest. I've always celebrated the game in general but told the truth. I don't think anyone has ever had a problem with honesty and the way you tell the truth. There are always times where you offend people because of the truth, but I've never really worried about that."

Rivers is sixth on the NBA's career coaching list in wins (1,194) and games (2,059). In nine seasons with Boston, he led the Celtics to the NBA title in 2008 and returned to the finals two years later. Along with Boston and Orlando, Rivers coached the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

This will not mark the first time Rivers has worked with NBC. He was a studio analyst during the 2012 London Games and got to do other sports beside basketball, including handball.

«We couldn't be happier to have him back on the NBC Sports team,» NBC sports executive producer and president Sam Flood