Doc Rivers Quotes & Sayings

You're always growing as a coach, and I am not done growing, and hopefully I'm not done winning. — Doc Rivers

How competitive can you be without losing your discipline? — Doc Rivers

If you're a great defensive player, you're a great defensive player 100% of the time. You can't be a great defensive player half of the time because you didn't get the ball once or twice. That can't sidetrack you. It's got to be 'I live for my defense, and my offense I'll get. But I can't let it affect my defense. Nothing affects my defense.' — Doc Rivers

Good players want to be coached ... Great players want to be told the truth — Doc Rivers

I think the biggest statement we can make as men, not as black men, as men, is to stick together and show how strong we are as a group. Not splinter. Not walk. It's easy to protest. The protest will be in our play. — Doc Rivers

Do you want to choose winning over standing out? It's a choice every player on every championship team has to do — Doc Rivers

Sometimes you will hate me because I will tell you the truth about your game. And the truth can hurt/humble you — Doc Rivers

If you're not talking, you're not playing defense — Doc Rivers

I don't think you should ever run from history. You should learn from it and embrace it. — Doc Rivers

I'm looking for activity. I put players in and take them out based on effort and defense, not making or missing shots — Doc Rivers

The thing a player has to ask himself: 'Do you want to choose winning over standing out?' Dwyane Wade made that choice, and I don't think he gets enough credit. — Doc Rivers

I love the NBA playoffs. It's just a great mental test for each team.
When it's really close, usually one team pulls together, and the other team comes apart. — Doc Rivers

Everybody likes each other until things get tough. Then you will find out what kind of team you have, and I understand that as much as anyone. — Doc Rivers

Encourage 'random' picks on the ball because they cannot be scouted — Doc Rivers

(Oklahoma Thunder center Kendrick) Perkins doesn't like other NBA players. — Doc Rivers

If you want to go quickly, go by yourself - if you want to go farther, go in a group. — Doc Rivers

Winning is like deodorant - it comes up and a lot of things don't stink. — Doc Rivers

This team is one execution away from being a very good basketball team. — Doc Rivers

I just think a guy that knows how to play when you put him on a good team, he can be really good, — Doc Rivers

Never underestimate the heart of a champion! — Doc Rivers

As a coach, you've got to do what's best for the team. If guys don't like it, they're going to leave. If they stay and don't like it, well, your team's going to suck anyway. Even if this happens, you still have to do it. You can't coach worrying about any individual. — Doc Rivers

You've got to coach worrying about your entire team: whether that gets you a championship or whether that gets you fired. I think it allows you to coach free. You're coaching with freedom because you know you're doing what you think is right. — Doc Rivers

You only have a number for one day. After that, it is all up to you — Doc Rivers

I love Courtney Lee. He's a very good player. I know that sounds very simple, but it's true. He does things well. He's a good defender, a great team defender, and he shoots the ball very well. — Doc Rivers