Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

Doc Rivers Thinks Kevin Garnett is Not “Crazy” Enough to Coach

Besides former Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders–may he rest in peace–Kevin Garnett’s closest friend who is not a player is easily Doc Rivers. Rivers was Garnett’s head coach in Boston from 2007-2013, and won a championship in their first year together in the 2007-08 season. Rivers has been coaching the Los Angeles Clippers since 2013.

When Doc Rivers heard the news that a handful of professional teams were recruiting newly-retired legend Kevin Garnett to coach, Rivers thought otherwise. Garnett’s former coach doesn’t see him wanting the role of leading a team from the sidelines.

 

“I don’t think he wants to coach,” Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “He’s not that crazy. Who would ever want to do that? There’s no way that’s going to happen.”

Rivers admits he would have cleared up space on the Los Angeles Clippers’ roster if Garnett announced he would have continued his NBA playing career. He knows what Garnett brings to the table, and even though he is 40-years-old, he knows the immediate impact he would have.

Rather than as a coach, Rivers sees Garnett more as a “teacher” with the ability to train players under one organization. “I think he has a teaching future,” he said.

On Thursday, Garnett stopped by the Los Angeles Clippers’ training camp to work with Blake Griffin and the rest of the team. Watching highlights of Garnett train the all-star power forward, it looks as if he gave him a hell of a workout, as well as great tips to use for the 2016-17 campaign.

“I just told him to come around and figure it out. Do whatever you want,” Rivers said on Garnett attending Clippers practice. “Whatever he does, I’m good with, because I do think he can have a very positive impact on us.”

Learning from one of the greatest power forwards of all-time? That’s a positive impact, indeed.