It’s hiring season in Los Angeles as the LA Lakers’ hunt for a new head coach has commenced. After a season that saw more setbacks than triumphs, the franchise is searching for a passionate leader who can pull them out of the mud. Doc Rivers is one person that has consistently popped up in their search. 

Rivers’ job was said to be hanging by a thread following Philadelphia’s second-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Miami Heat. However, Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations for the Sixers, confirmed on Friday that Rivers will return next season. 

So, despite the Sixers being bogged in mud as the season proved fruitless, Rivers will return to the sidelines in 2022-23.

Of course, the coach is not wholly to blame for this year’s failures. However, he is undoubtedly to blame for certain blunders, as the sheer lack of offensive flair was a worrying trend. 

Rivers was a controversial choice for the men in Purple and Gold from the outset. His tenure as head coach of the Lakers’ two main historic adversaries, the Boston Celtics, and the Los Angeles Clippers, did not assist his cause in the public sphere. Neither did his long and storied history of remarks disparaging the Los Angeles Lakers, dating all the way back to the 2010 NBA Finals.

Lakers fans are relieved knowing Doc Rivers will not be their coach

Fans in Los Angeles are relieved to know that Doc Rivers will return as the Sixers head coach. According to the fans, the Lakers dodged their biggest bullet of the offseason. 

The Lakers’ hunt for a new head coach still on

Considering Doc Rivers is no longer on the market, the number of coaches with head coaching experience is minimal. The Lakers interviewed both Terry Stotts and Mark Jackson, the only candidates with prior head coaching experience.

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While experience and seniority haven’t been a criterion in the team’s hunt, having a first-year coach walk into the tumultuous environment the Lakers provide with the mission to succeed from day 1 will be intimidating. 

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The organization’s quest for a head coach will most certainly continue, with a handful of assistants being favored. Kenny Atkinson of Golden State and Darwin Ham of Milwaukee are some of the names added to the list. Atkinson previously served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, where he established a solid reputation. 

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Given that the team was apparently taking its time with Doc Rivers and Quin Snyder and that both are now off the board, the operation might begin to catch steam. More candidates are expected to be interviewed before the team moves on to the next round of the hunt.