Philadelphia 76ers: 3 benefits to Doc Rivers as head coach

3. Doc Rivers, the players’ coach

Rivers has built his career on coaching star talent and, more often than not, connecting with star talent. He coached Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo in Boston — a combustive set of personalities that got along swimmingly during Rivers’ tenure. He also coached Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in Orlando. Oh, and in LA, he coached Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.

There is no shortage of star experience on Rivers’ resume, and the hope is he can translate those decades of experience to a successful partnership with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. At the end of Brett Brown’s tenure, it became clear his voice didn’t fully get through to Philadelphia’s star duo. It’s Rivers’ job to connect with them, and to hold them accountable.

It makes sense for the Sixers to hire a players’ coach. To hire someone who is known to get along with players and to command respect in the locker room. While Rivers struggled to maintain a harmonious locker room in Los Angeles — the toxicity leaked from that group after Denver’s win a couple weeks ago is telling — his name speaks for itself. He’s Doc Rivers, and players will listen to Doc Rivers until he gives them a reason not to.

The main motivation to fire Brown was the staleness of his voice and leadership. The Sixers needed a change, and to bring in a coach who could reinvigorate not only the on-court product, but the organization’s culture. From that perspective, Rivers is a home run.