Doc Rivers Receives Votes for Coaches Association Award for Coach of the Year

While the official NBA awards will not be released until the end of June, the votes for the Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award were released today. And, not surprisingly, Doc Rivers placed on the ballot. He was one of eight coaches to receive votes (with Raptors’ coach Dwane Casey winning the award), so it’s unlikely he got more than one or two votes, but still, there was some appreciation there.

Doc did a masterful job of handling the Clippers through a transitionary and injury-plagued season, somehow leading them to a record over .500. Other coaches (and national broadcasts) praised his efforts all year, deservedly so.

Doc probably won’t place on the regular NBA awards ballot, as the Clippers fell apart down the stretch of the season, and there were so many other terrific candidates. However, his performance this season deserved to be recognized, and in a small way, this was part of that recognition. Doc clearly remains a respected and well-liked coach among his peers (and around the NBA), just another reason for the Clippers potentially extending his contract this summer. Maybe next season, Doc will have another shot at winning the official Coach of the Year award once again.