Doc Rivers Reflects on Embiid, Maxey, and What Could’ve Been in Philly
PHILADELPHIA - Doc Rivers returned to familiar ground Tuesday night, but this time he was on the opposing bench. Now leading the Milwaukee Bucks, Rivers made his way back to Philadelphia, where he spent three seasons at the helm of the 76ers. And while his tenure in Philly didn’t end with a Finals appearance, it left a lasting mark on the franchise - and on two of its brightest stars.
Before tipoff, Rivers didn’t hold back when asked about Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP he coached during his time with the Sixers. In fact, he went as far as to call Embiid the most talented player he’s ever coached - and that’s saying something, considering Rivers’ resume includes names like Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, and Kawhi Leonard.
“I was telling a very, very, very Hall of Fame player that I coached - Joel is the most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Rivers said. “He was like, ‘What?’
I was like, ‘He is!’ The things you guys see - and the things you don’t see in practice - it’s incredible.
It really is.”
That kind of praise isn’t just lip service. Rivers spent three years watching Embiid dominate on both ends of the floor, anchoring the Sixers' offense and defense while developing into one of the league’s most complete big men. But as Rivers was quick to point out, the postseason was a different story - not because of effort or talent, but because of health.
“Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs,” Rivers said. “He wasn’t healthy last year.
He wasn’t healthy the year before. That’s five years straight, I think?
If he ever gets to the playoffs healthy - and they’ve added some pieces here - they’re gonna be a dangerous team. But it all comes down to that.
And nothing’s changed, you know?”
That’s been the recurring theme in Philadelphia: potential, with a big asterisk next to health. Rivers isn’t the first Sixers coach to run into that wall - Brett Brown dealt with it, and now Nick Nurse is navigating the same challenge. The Sixers’ ceiling remains sky-high with Embiid leading the way, but that ceiling only matters if he’s upright and available when it counts.
Of course, Embiid wasn’t the only player who blossomed under Rivers. Tyrese Maxey, now a first-time All-Star starter, was Rivers’ first draft pick with the Sixers back in 2020. The selection came during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Rivers and assistant coach Sam Cassell saw something special in the Kentucky guard - even if they weren’t quite sure what position he played at the time.
“On film, just his quickness,” Rivers said, reflecting on the pre-draft process. “It’s funny - none of us thought he could be a point guard.
The first question I asked him - and Immanuel Quickley - was, ‘Who was the point guard?’ And they both said the other guy.
So I got a kick out of that. I was like, ‘Oh, these guys wanna shoot the ball.’
And that’s been proven out.”
But Maxey’s game has evolved far beyond just scoring. Rivers credited the young guard’s growth as a playmaker, noting how much more poised and precise he’s become with the ball in his hands.
“Where he’s really improved is his passing,” Rivers said. “You can see him make plays, get into the paint - he doesn’t get too deep. I remember when he would get too deep and leave his feet, and at his size, that’s a deflected pass.”
That development hasn’t gone unnoticed. Maxey’s leap from energetic spark plug to All-Star starter has been one of the league’s more impressive growth stories over the last few seasons. And Rivers, despite no longer being in Philly, still takes pride in that.
“When you’re a head coach, you take more pride in the relationships,” Rivers said. “We’ve remained extremely close.
Obviously, him and my son are almost best friends. When guys like that - Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], we remain very close.
I had him for one year, too, you know? It’s really cool.
Tyrese more, in some ways, just because of his size and watching his growth. Shai’s a big kid - you kinda knew it.
You saw it. Tyrese just keeps getting better.
No one’s outworking him. So it’s really cool to watch how quickly he’s done it.
Just really proud of him.”
That pride is warranted. Maxey’s work ethic has been well-documented, and the results are showing up on the court. He’s not just a rising star - he’s a foundational piece for a team still chasing its championship breakthrough.
And while Rivers is now focused on helping the Bucks make their own title push, his fingerprints are still all over this Sixers team. Embiid and Maxey both took major steps forward under his watch.
Whether that’s enough to finally get Philly over the hump remains to be seen. But if Embiid can stay healthy and Maxey keeps ascending, the Sixers might just have the formula they’ve been searching for.