Who is the next Los Angeles Clippers coach? Here are five names to look out for who could replace Doc Rivers
Los Angeles Clippers fans had startling news to contend with on Monday, September 28, with coach Doc Rivers stepping down from his position as the head coach. With this, the Clippers are now the sixth NBA team that needs a replacement coach after the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, there are quite a few options for chairman Steve Ballmer to explore. Conversely, these are also places where Rivers could receive potential offers from with fans of these teams already tweeting where they want him to head next. Here's a quick look at the five potential candidates to take Rivers' place:
Tyronn Lue
The most obvious name doing the rounds. Last month, it was reported that Lue, the current Assistant coach of the Clippers, was looked as the next coach for the 76ers, however, while there is yet to be a concrete announcement on that front, Lue is looked at as one of the possible names to replace Rivers.
Lue's coaching career started off in 2013 when he joined the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Clippers. The following year, he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as associate head coach and was the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA. He went on to become the head coach of the Cavs in 2016 and during his tenure, he coached the team to an NBA Championship. He stayed with the team till 2018 before moving on for a role as Assistant coach with the Clippers again last year.
Mark Jackson
Jackson comes with rich experience as a player who turned out for the New York Knicks, Clippers, Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and the Rockets in a career spanning from 1987 to 2004. His coaching CV sees him as the coach of the Golden State Warriors between 2011 and 2014. He later moved on to the analyst role in TV channels with stints in ABC and ESPN.
Sam Cassell
The 50-year-old began his coaching career in 2009. He started off as the Assistant coach of the Washington Wizards and later moved on to the Clippers camp in 2014 to work under Rivers as the Assistant coach. With Lue and Cassell, the Clippers management has two ready options considering the chemistry and the rapport they share with the players and the team.
Jeff Van Gundy
Another name doing the rounds alongside Lue. From kicking off his coaching career with the Knicks where he moved up the ranks from Assistant to head coach, Gundy replaced Rudy Tomjanovich in 2003 as coach of the Rockets. He is currently under the ESPN roster as a commentator for the network.
Kenny Atkinson
Atkinson comes in with a rich coaching experience. He joined the Knicks coaching staff as an assistant coach under Mike D'Antoni in 2008 and followed it up with stints with the Atlanta Hawks in 2012. A move to the Brooklyn Nets was next on Atkinson's cards as he took up the position of head coach in 2016. He stepped down as their coach in March 2020.
Who do you think will replace Doc Rivers as the head coach of the Clippers?