Doc Rivers Almost Coached The Los Angeles Lakers

Doc Rivers nearly became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, according to Al Michaels.

Doc Rivers had a great run as head coach of the Boston Celtics from 2004-2013. He advanced to the playoffs seven times, making two NBA Finals appearances and winning one title.

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But, there remains an alternate scenario in which Rivers never manned the Celtics’ sidelines.

Famed broadcaster Al Michael told The Dan Patrick Show that Rivers nearly became the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach in 2004.

From CSNNE.com:

"Phil Jackson, who would leave and then return as Lakers coach, was hemming and hawing over his future. Michaels said he ran into Lakers owner Jerry Buss while doing a game with Rivers, who at the time had just accepted the Celtics job but was still doing playoff games, and Michaels asked Buss: ‘What’s with your coach [Jackson]? And Buss told him, ‘If you’re guy had not taken that Boston job, he’d have been my guy…’“So, if Doc had not taken that Boston job, and Phil stepped down…He be in his 11th or 12th year as Lakers coach.”"

Considering Rivers is so associated with the work he did in Boston, it’s hard to picture him coaching the rival Lakers.

Rivers has proven to be an excellent coach over the years and it’s interesting to think about what he could have done with Kobe Bryant while the Lakers shooting guard was in his prime.

However, Phil Jackson remained with the Lakers and he and Bryant claimed two more championships together after 2004, winning one over Rivers’ Celtics.

The Celtics traded Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013.

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