Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Doc Rivers Has High Praise for Celtics Fans: 'I Don't Think It's Like That in Any Other City'
Before getting honored at The Tradition, an annual fundraising gala held at TD Garden by The Sports Museum, Doc Rivers referred to his time as head coach of the Boston Celtics as "probably the best years of my life in sports."
His nine seasons as the C's bench boss include being at the helm of the 2008 title team, the last time the franchise raised a championship banner to the TD Garden rafters.
"Every time I come in, it's the first thing I look at," stated Rivers.
And while his decision to leave for the Los Angeles Clippers and continue competing for the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the Celtics embarked on a rebuild was a practical and understandable choice, in hindsight, the Chicago native who accumulated over 1,000 wins as a head coach wishes he stayed in Boston.
"I regret it every day," expressed Rivers. "It was the right move for me at the time -- nine years at one place. We were going to rebuild. I look back on that all the time. My life would have been so much smoother if I had stayed where I was at," adding, "You don't look back, and I don't, but I regret that at times, for sure."
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Rivers, who played for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs and coached the Orlando Magic, Celtics, Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, also had high praise for the C's fan base.
"I was telling the story earlier; I had the love for the fans before I took the coaching job. I said that in my original press conference. I fouled out in that Game 7 -- that Larry Bird and Dominique (Wilkins) duel -- and the fans gave me a standing ovation. I was an opposing player. It shows you the respect they have for the game. But it also tells you they want to win, too.
"That's what I love about the fans, is the knowledge they have for their team, the love they have for their team, but (also) the respect (that) they have for the game that they watch. I don't think it's like that in any other city."
Further Reading
Mike Gorman Delivers Bold Take About Celtics' Joe Mazzulla
Kristaps Porzingis Sharp in Return, Helps Celtics Top Knicks
White and Porzingis Shine as Celtics Pass Physical Challenge from Knicks
Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Why He Chose Celtics, First Impressions in Boston: 'Perfect Scenario'
Tyrese Haliburton, Another Sloppy 3rd Qtr., Propel Pacers Past Celtics in In-Season Tournament
Joe Mazzulla Praises Payton Pritchard's Fourth-Quarter Performance in C's Win vs. 76ers
An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'
Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
