When you’ve coached as long as Doc Rivers has - from the early days in Orlando to championship contention in Boston, to star-studded rosters in L.A. and Philly - you’ve seen just about everything the NBA has to offer. Hall of Famers, MVPs, All-Stars. But even in that stacked résumé, one name rises to the top for Rivers: Joel Embiid.
Yes, the same Embiid who Rivers coached during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. The same Embiid who, under Rivers' watch, delivered one of the most dominant MVP seasons in recent memory. According to Rivers, no one - not Chris Paul, not Paul Pierce, not even Giannis Antetokounmpo - matches Embiid’s sheer talent.
“I was telling a Hall of Fame player that I coached, and Joel’s the most talented player that I ever coached,” Rivers said. “It’s the things you see and then the things you see in practice that he can do. It’s incredible.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s spent over two decades on NBA sidelines, guiding some of the most elite players of this generation. But when you look at what Embiid did during that 2022-23 MVP campaign, it’s not hard to understand why Rivers is so emphatic.
That season, Embiid averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, along with a steal and nearly two blocks per game - all while playing 66 games and anchoring both ends of the floor. It wasn’t just the raw numbers, though.
It was how he got them: the footwork, the finesse, the power, the touch from midrange and the line. He was a matchup nightmare, and he made it look effortless.
And while the Rivers-Embiid duo never made it past the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, their time together still left a lasting impression on the league. Rivers helped Embiid unlock new dimensions of his game, and in return, Embiid delivered a season for the ages - one that still resonates with his former coach.
Fast forward to Tuesday night, and the Bucks-76ers matchup added a little extra intrigue. Rivers, now at the helm in Milwaukee, found himself facing off against his former star. It was a full-circle moment - a coach who once game-planned with Embiid now game-planning against him.
And yet, even from the opposing bench, Rivers couldn’t help but reflect on just how special Embiid is. That kind of talent doesn’t come around often. And when it does, it tends to stick with you - even after the final buzzer sounds.