While it was quite a debatable development, former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame just recently. But before his formal enshrinement into the hall, he dished out his thoughts on the new superteam in Philly, offering some sort of a warning about what the squad needs to actually work beyond their overwhelming talent on paper.
Rivers said that for the new-look 76ers team to function as envisioned, it will require everyone to be committed to one common goal and to make the necessary sacrifices. The Hall of Famer added that every single player has to buy in, even drawing a comparison to the Knicks this past season en route to their championship when they suddenly flipped the switch and played more unselfishly after their initial struggle in their first-round series against the Hawks.
Doc Rivers issues a compelling message to the new 76ers superteam
Rivers has extensive experience manning the sidelines for teams with an influx of star power. He led the huddle for one of the first superteams in the league when he coached a Boston squad that featured Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. That group won a championship in 2007, handing the longtime coach the lone title of his career.
Doc also handled another superteam not too long ago when he led a Clippers team that had Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams, and other high-end veterans. However, that group faltered when it mattered the most, blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs under his watch.
Rivers, who coached the 76ers just recently, does not have a lot of fans in Philly, but one thing fans cannot deny is his pedigree when it comes to dealing with uber-talented teams. He has experienced being on both ends of the spectrum with those kinds of squads, so his weighing in on the new-look 76ers carries some compelling heft.
Philly will enter the 2026-27 season as an undisputed championship contender. They have four players who could very well crack an All-NBA team this coming season, but more importantly, they have a battle-tested, veteran-laden nucleus that seems intent on doing whatever it takes to snap the franchise's title drought.
The 76ers have yet to play a single minute with their new core, but making sacrifices and putting a premium on the group rather than the individual will decide their fate in the upcoming campaign. If there is no buy-in, as Rivers wanted to see from them, they will be poised to turn in an absolute disappointment of a season.
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