The Doc Rivers homecoming tour took a poignant turn after two buoyant days in Milwaukee, where the Clippers coach once starred at point guard for Marquette.
He returned to Chicago on Thursday and his mother was not there to greet him.
"This is the first time, so … , " Rivers said, his voice choked with emotion.
Bettye Rivers died in June at 82 from a variety of health issues. Doc would always drive to his mother's home in Maywood, a suburb west of Chicago, for dinner after games against the Bulls.