Doc Rivers, a newly inducted member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will join NBC Sports as an analyst for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, marking a transition from his coaching career to broadcasting. The announcement was made on September 21, with Rivers confirming in an interview that he is fully retiring from coaching and will focus on his media role.

Rivers, who most recently served as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2025-26 season, brings over four decades of experience in the NBA as both a player and coach. His final season coaching the Bucks ended with a 32-50 record, with the team failing to reach the playoffs. Over his 27 seasons as a head coach, Rivers accumulated 1,194 victories, ranking sixth all-time, and coached in 2,060 games, placing him fourth in that category. His coaching career is highlighted by an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

The Hall of Fame enshrinement came in August 2026, shortly before Rivers announced his move into media. This new role at NBC will see him join a broadcast team that already includes his son, Austin Rivers, who is also an NBA analyst for the network. Notably, several of Rivers' former players—Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Brian Scalabrine, and Jamal Crawford—are part of NBC’s NBA coverage team, creating a familiar environment for the veteran coach.

This opportunity is not Rivers’ first experience in broadcasting or with NBC. He previously worked as a studio analyst during the 2012 London Olympics and has also contributed to Turner Sports in 1996 as well as ESPN in two separate stints (2003-04 and 2023) during periods when he was not coaching.

In a statement, Rivers expressed enthusiasm for his return to NBC and for the season ahead: “I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it and I’ve always loved talking about it. I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”