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ON THE NIGHT the LA Clippers landed Kawhi Leonard as a complimentary representative and traded for Paul George last July, Doc Rivers talked with the groups president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, lots of times.
There was an argument over simply how much the Clippers ought to provide up in the trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for George. Would Leonard actually sign with the competing Lakers if the Clippers failed to acquire George as his co-star? Could they manage to learn?
The discussion had been continuous for days, but by the night of July 5, it was time to decide. Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer would make the final choice, but he wanted their opinion, too.
For Rivers, the choice was simple. You go for it if you have an opportunity to win a champion. Because those chances do not occur very often.
Rivers was having dinner at Nobu, a high-end sushi dining establishment in Malibu, when Frank sent him a text stating the offer was done. He mainly included his enjoyment, although a curious guard saw him shout out, “Yesssss!”.
He and Frank could be more honest about what the franchise had actually just done as soon as Rivers got into his vehicle. He d experienced franchise-altering moves like this before. When he d coached the Boston Celtics, the group got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007 to match with Paul Pierce.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick had counseled him then, “You either land the plane efficiently or its an airplane crash.”.
A champion was anticipated now. And if it didnt work out, Rivers joked with Frank, everybody was getting fired.
MORE: The Clippers gamble to change Doc has to hit.
Still, when it came to Rivers, it was hard to envision the Clippers making great on the implicit threat. Even when he publicly took duty for the Clippers failure to advance out of the 2nd round of the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 series lead versus the Denver Nuggets, few within the organization or around the league believed Rivers would take the fall.
This was Doc Rivers, the coach who had actually brought a reliability the franchise had actually never ever had before with his arrival in 2013. Doc Rivers, the man who led the franchise and the league through the scandal over previous owner Donald Sterlings racist remarks in 2014. Doc Rivers, the Black coach whom NBA Players Association president Chris Paul had contacted us to deal with the leagues gamers on Aug. 26, when the NBA paused to come to grips with social justice problems.
His voice had actually become one of the most effective in all of sports. And after 3 other Black head coaches had actually been fired this year, it was difficult to develop that Rivers would be the fourth.
Behind the scenes, though, no one understood where Ballmer would land. As excitable and expression-filled as he usually appears during games, he has actually been difficult to check out as an NBA owner.
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When he bought the team in 2014, Ballmer made a point of stating he would take his time to study the organization and find out before making any big moves, “I dont understand the first thing about owning a basketball group,” Ballmer stated over a long lunch after his introductory news conference. “I was joking with a few of the players, You all understand more about what an owner must do than I do since Ive neither worked for an owner nor been an owner.”.
And undoubtedly, Ballmer took his time in evaluating how finest to move the Clippers forward. His most memorable modification the first few seasons most likely was producing a mascot for the team, Chuck the Condor.
Those close to Ballmer knew it was only a matter of time before he put his stamp on the franchise. And once he d discovered the ropes as an NBA owner, he brought that culture to the Clippers.
So when Ballmer and Rivers began discussing what had actually failed this season, sources stated that instinct is what led Ballmer to question whether a new method of looking at the group, or a new voice, is what the Clippers actually required.
Throughout about 10 days following the Clippers Game 7 loss to the Nuggets, the third consecutive video game the team had blown a double-digit lead in the 2nd half, Ballmer and Rivers had numerous prolonged phone conversations, sources said.
Absolutely nothing the gamers told him, sources stated, altered Ballmers mind about moving on from Rivers. Eventually, the decision to part ways with Rivers was Ballmers.
Rivers didnt feel comfortable continuing as coach without Ballmers complete support, believing a strong relationship between the coach and ownership was basic to success in the NBA. Ballmer didnt feel completely persuaded that Rivers had a much better strategy and technique to next season than a brand-new coach with a new viewpoint would.
It was made main Monday morning, but sources stated it had actually become apparent over the weekend that the relationship had come to an end.
Senior writer for ESPN.com
Used seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News
Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL because 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for almost a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after operating at the New York Daily News for nearly 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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THE DECISION SENT shock waves through the league. Like Belichick had actually warned him all those years ago, the coach of a team with champion expectations either wins a title or crashes. But the Clippers failure as a team was so widespread it was difficult to pin it solely on Rivers.
Rivers thought the group was reversed by an absence of chemistry and leadership. They required more time together than the handful of games they played at complete strength as Leonard and George worked their method back from injuries and gradually integrated into the grittier team that had actually overachieved the year before. And he thought they were discovering that identity, right before the season stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The last 10 games, we were turning into the Clippers,” Rivers informed press reporters on a Zoom call during the hiatus. … We were playing perfectly through Kawhi and PG. Guys werent attempting to remain out of each others way.
” I truly believed we were about to make a crazy run down the stretch. And sadly, bam, it stopped.”.
Rivers had actually hoped the bubble environment would benefit the Clippers chemistry. Rather, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams missed considerable time due to deaths of family or buddies outside the bubble. Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet were late in arriving after contracting COVID-19. Then Beverley, who strained his left calf and missed out on all however one game in the first round versus Dallas, and Harrell dealt with their conditioning once they went back to the group.
The biggest concern, however, was the groups collective spirit.
Rivers thought the Clippers lacked chemistry and leadership for most of the season which they were just finding their identity when the pandemic began. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty ImagesDuring the 4 1/2- month layoff, the group attempted to remain together through text and workouts. Sources said that as the season reboot grew nearer, George and Leonard arranged group exercises several times a week, in either Los Angeles, the Inland Empire or San Diego.
Still, there were several crucial gamers– most especially Williams– who were never ever completely on board with finishing the season in the bubble. And versus the background of social unrest around the nation, Rivers gathered the group for a vote on whether to restart at all.
It passed however just after they all chose they had enough “in common” to play.
After the season was stopped on Aug. 26, the Clippers again voted on whether to complete the season. This time, they voted no. It wasnt up until Rivers was summoned to a late-night team meeting that the group voted to continue with the season.
For Rivers, this was everything. None of the chemistry concerns and injuries that kept them from finding a rhythm on the court were going to change unless the players accepted their time together in the chance and the bubble to win a championship.
He didnt mind talking through psychological concerns with his team, but he could not keep being the loudest voice in the room, pressing them onward. Beverley wasnt afraid to reveal his opinions, but he had a difficult time recuperating from a calf injury and then staying on the court and out of nasty trouble.
These are the concerns he focused on when Rivers analyzed and retraced what went incorrect with Ballmer. His strategy for next season involved staffing changes, schematic changes and improved chemistry from another year of playing together. He also thought they required a real point player to assist arrange their offense.
For Ballmer, the questions were different: Why was there an absence of leadership? Why was the chemistry lacking? Why were players so apathetic about playing in the bubble?
In 2014, Ballmer stated he would take his time to find out and study the organization before making any huge relocations. Scott Varley/Daily Breeze through Getty ImagesRIVERS AND BALLMER explored all of these concerns and concerns in the 10 days following the season-ending loss to Denver. They simply could not discover commonalities on a vision for the future.
When Rivers and Ballmer spoke Monday, the only thing left to do was discuss how they d provide the news and deliver, sources stated.
It was lost on no one that the Clippers main release stated that Ballmer and Rivers had actually reached a shared decision that Rivers would step down. This was between them. Two strong-willed titans of their own industries who had actually come together in an organized marital relationship 6 years ago. The marriage had endured a lot in those six seasons. Honestly, it made it through much better than most marriages where the owner chooses their head coach.
2 RelatedBallmer had actually been systematic and purposeful in finding out how to be an NBA owner. He d spent 6 years assessing the franchise he d bought for $2 billion and developing a vision for its future.
He d traded away a tremendous amount of draft picks and young skill for George and the very best chance at signing Leonard. He dropped $400 million to buy the Forum in Inglewood to clear the way for his franchise to have a gleaming new arena to play in. This is his vision.
Doc Rivers has always had a present for understanding exactly what to say in the hardest scenarios. Steve Ballmer stated everything he required to Monday, when he decided that wasnt enough.
MORE: Was Doc actually the problem for the Clippers?
Ramona Shelburne
Absolutely nothing the gamers told him, sources said, changed Ballmers mind about moving on from Rivers. Ultimately, the decision to part ways with Rivers was Ballmers.
The Clippers failure as a team was so prevalent it was hard to pin it solely on Rivers.
When Rivers evaluated and backtracked what went incorrect with Ballmer, these are the issues he focused on. It was lost on no one that the Clippers main release stated that Ballmer and Rivers had reached a mutual choice that Rivers would step down.
