Fansided

Doc Rivers’ 5 biggest mistakes as Clippers president of operations

By John Buhler

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a call during the second half of Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a call during the second half of Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 6: Glen Davis
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 6: Glen Davis /

4. The Glen Davis saga

At one point, Glen “Big Baby” Davis was Glenn “Doc” Rivers’ guy with the Boston Celtics. Davis was a rotund, albeit skilled, power forward for the Celtics in his basketball prime. He was a beast in college at LSU with the physique of Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval. Man’s gotta eat.

Davis was a high-end rotational player for Rivers’ tenure as Boston’s head coach during the Big Three era. Without Davis, Boston doesn’t get to two NBA Finals in a three-year span and win the 2008 NBA Championship. When Rivers ended up with the Clippers, it was only natural for Davis to venture to the West Coast.

Davis wasn’t as good as he had been in Boston. Always being out of shape grew thin on Rivers, wanting Davis to take better care of himself physically. In a contract year for the Clippers, Davis dealt with an ankle injury in the second-half of the season. That was the final straw that broke the camel’s back in the Glen/n partnership.

At this point, Rivers had begun to cement a reputation of treating players poorly when they were dealing with injuries. The Jared Dudley tenure in Los Angeles was another example of this complete lack of empathy on Rivers’ behalf. Davis has not played in the NBA since the 2014-15 NBA season. The rift between he and the Rivers Clan is about as bad as it gets. Frankly, it’s probably the worst ending of player-coach relationship of the Rivers era in Los Angeles.

Home/Los Angeles Clippers