JJ Redick didn’t simply take Doc Rivers’ outdated job — he eviscerated him.
The ex-NBA star joined Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ESPN’s prime broadcasting group after Rivers left the gig to educate the Milwaukee Bucks in a midseason rent, however Redick isn’t giving him any leeway in his return to the bench.
“I’ve seen the development, I’ve seen the development for years,” Redick stated on “First Take” on Tuesday, excoriating his former coach. “The development is at all times making excuses. Doc, we get it. Taking on a group in the course of a season is difficult. Identical to getting traded in the course of a season is difficult for a participant, we get it.
“It’s at all times an excuse. It’s at all times throwing your group underneath the bus. They lose to Memphis, ‘oh it’s his gamers fault!’ Memphis was taking part in G League guys and two-way guys. You take a look at his quotes over the weekend and now he desires to take credit score for the James Harden commerce to the Clippers understanding? He desires credit score for that? There’s by no means accountability with that man.”
Rivers, in taking up the Bucks in late January, stated throughout his introduction he wished he had waited to take over till after the All-Star break.
Within the closing sport earlier than the break, Milwaukee — at 35-21, the No. 3 group in within the Jap Convention led by stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard — fell to a shorthanded Grizzlies group, prompting Rivers to quip that they “had some guys in Cabo.”
He additionally stated he was consulted earlier than the 76ers despatched Harden to Los Angeles in an early season blockbuster — whereas he was working for ESPN.
“I used to be the one, clearly, they consulted,” Rivers informed ClutchPoints on the All-Star festivities. “They made calls and I used to be one of many guys who stated it will be an incredible deal for them as a result of I believed he match them higher than he would match the Sixers group. I believe he’s an ideal match there.”
Rivers is among the NBA’s most completed coaches, having accrued a 1,100-770 mark over 24-plus season — together with a 3-7 file with the Bucks up to now — and coached Redick from 2013-17, one thing present Milwaukee guard Patrick Beverley identified in protection of his new coach.
“This Man Doc really saved your profession,” Bucks veteran Patrick Beverley wrote on X. “Began you when nobody else needed 2. And u retire go on TV and say that.”
Redick didn’t again off his take and disputed Beverley’s.
“Pat my man I had a 4 12 months provide with participant choice for a similar cash to be a starter for a special group. FOH “saved my profession,” he responded.
Redick’s first-hand expertise with Rivers leant credence to his phrases for his fellow “First Take” panelists, who predicted a few of that accountability.
“I stated this, JJ, the second he bought the job,” Stephen A. Smith stated, “If Doc Rivers — and I’m not speaking about this season, as a result of he got here in there midway by way of — If Doc River between this 12 months and subsequent season, doesn’t win, I believe it’ll be his final teaching job within the NBA.”