Doc Rivers Silences Wannabe-Coach, Former Player JJ Redick

Real NBA head coach Doc Rivers grilled his former player, JJ Redick, after the podcaster/wannabe coach gave scathing remarks about Rivers' leadership.

On ESPN, Redick remarked that Doc Rivers lacked accountability after Doc stated that his losing Milwaukee Bucks players had their minds on "Cancun" rather than winning games.

Joining Stephen A. Smith's eponymous YouTube show, Rivers defended himself against Redick's criticisms and delivered a brilliant comeback, reminding Redick that his best years in the league were under Rivers' coaching tenure with the Clippers.

"JJ’s had a problem with me for a while," Rivers told Stephen A. "And that’s fine. Players do."

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 17: J.J. Redick #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers talks to Head Coach Doc Rivers against the Sacramento Kings on January 17, 2015 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Somehow, the quick-tempered Redick is drawing head-coaching consideration this NBA offseason, despite holding no prior coaching experience.

It turns out that when you co-host a podcast with LeBron James, the NBA job offers trickle in.

"When you coach, you can be called a player’s coach, or whatever you want to be called, but if you make decisions that the player doesn’t agree with and in JJ’s case, we didn’t sign him back," Rivers added. "With the Clippers, I stopped playing him as much because he wasn’t very effective in the playoffs."

Bucks guard Patrick Beverley previously shared a similar message to Rivers, calling Redick out for mocking the coach that gave him a career resurgence. 

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers coaches J.J. Redick #4 against the Sacramento Kings on November 18, 2016 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Since his retirement, JJ Redick's showy NBA commentary favors headline fodder rather than salient basketball talk.

The 39-year-old's hubris has been seen as a red flag for his prospects as a coach, aside from his inexperience.

Either way, Rivers hopes that Redick can assume a coaching role (likely with the Lakers) to experience the plight of being a divisive head coach.

"I really hope he gets the job," Rivers said. "Because then he’ll understand, some of the things that he has a problem with me and other coaches that you hear on his podcast – he’ll realize, not as easy as you think. And some of these decisions that you have to make are brutal."

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 28: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers and JJ Redick #4 of the Clippers argue a second half call with official James Capers during their 98-93 win over the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 28, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Send a message: alejandro.avila@outkick.com