Doc Rivers has been named one of three finalists for NBA Coach of the Year, along with Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets. The award will be presented at the annual NBA awards show on June 24 in Santa Monica.
Rivers has won Coach of the Year once in his 20-year coaching career, as a rookie head coach for the Orlando Magic in 2000. This Clippers team has been compared to that Magic group throughout the season, often by Rivers himself, because of the heart and hustle both teams personified.