Doc Rivers delivers the most Doc Rivers quote ever about Joel Embiid

Doc Rivers. Even saying the name brings a chill down my spine.

The former Sixers head coach is now with the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently sit at 18-27 with Giannis sidelined for the foreseeable future. When things start going sideways for Doc, he always seems to find an out. Ten years from now, he will probably dig up another excuse about why he could not win anything in Milwaukee, just like he has done when reflecting on his time in Philly.

During an interview with Austin Krell, Joel Embiid’s name came up. Doc Rivers had nothing but good things to say, telling Krell, “Joel is the most talented player that I ever coached,” before immediately following it up with an excuse for why he did not win shit here.

Doc Rivers: RAT

Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid, via @NBAKrell:

"Joel is the most talented player that I ever coached … Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs." pic.twitter.com/Py5Hb2keHl

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 28, 2026

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Was Embiid always hurt in the postseason during the Rivers years? No. Even though he did miss time, it’s not like he was injured every single postseason. It’s also worth pointing out that the Embiid-era Sixers never had more talent than the group of players they had under Doc.

In his first season as head coach, the 76ers were the No. 1 seed in the East, only to blow a 2-0 series lead to the Atlanta Hawks. I still have nightmares about it. Embiid played in every game of that series. The following year, it was the same story. Doc Rivers got James Harden to pair with Embiid and still lost in the semifinals.

To me, Doc is just a clown coach. The same thing happens to him every time he reaches the postseason. It’s like a bad rerun of The Three Stooges.

Now you’ve got Giannis truthers bashing Rivers for these comments since he’s currently coaching Giannis. Whatever. Let them cry. I don’t care.