Doc Rivers has been a coach in the NBA for 25 years. During that time, there was perhaps no player he had to face as a coach other than LeBron James. Speaking in a press conference, Rivers pointed out what puts LeBron James aside in terms of his longevity. He noted that the care LeBron takes of himself off the court has allowed him to extend his career as long as he has.
“What LeBron [James] is doing… I just don’t see it. I always tell Giannis when we start watching film together… You’re one-of-one… We’ve never seen anybody like LeBron. LeBron is deadly serious about taking care of his body. Most people wouldn’t do what LeBron does off the floor and that’s why they don’t last. LeBron has decided to do it all, and that’s why he lasts.”
Doc Rivers has coached against LeBron James 48 times in his career and holds a 20-28 record against the King in his career. It is fair to say that LeBron James has gotten the best of Rivers and hasn’t given him a chance to get much back against him.
Rivers famously coached two very good teams, which caused some problems for LeBron James. Firstly, it was the Boston Celtics from 2008 to 2012. After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in monster trades in 2007, the Celtics ruled the East. They toppled LeBron James and the Cavaliers twice in the playoffs in 2008 and 2010.
However, James would get his revenge on the Celtics when he would leave the Cavaliers to form his own big three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
LeBron and the Heat would beat the Celtics in the NBA playoffs twice in consecutive years. LeBron even had the best game of his career against the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
Then in 2019-2020, LeBron James’ Lakers and Doc Rivers’ Clippers were the two favorites to win the NBA championship. After a tense 2-2 in-season series, everyone expected a colossal clash featuring both LA teams.
But the Clippers wouldn’t even face the Lakers in the playoffs, getting knocked out by the Denver Nuggets. Whereas LeBron’s Lakers would topple the same Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals en route to winning the NBA championship.
Since then, Rivers and LeBron haven’t had many encounters, as the former has been coaching Eastern Conference teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and now the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, one can claim that LeBron James is the player that has caused Doc Rivers the most headaches in his career.
Rivers will be glad that he doesn’t have to face LeBron James more than two games a season now, as it saves him the trouble of having to plan around arguably the greatest player of all time. But make no mistake about it, from what Rivers said above, it is clear how much respect he has for LeBron James.
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