Doc Rivers, Chris Finch named 2024 NBA All-Star Game head coaches

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Doc Riversand Minnesota Timberwolves’ Chris Finch have been named the coachesfor their respective conferences in the upcoming 2024 NBA All-StarGame in Indianapolis.

Rivers and his staff will get tocoach the Eastern Conference All-Stars as the Bucks have clinchedthe best record in the East through games played on Feb. 4 amongthe teams with a head coach eligible for the All-Stargame.

The Boston Celtics technicallyhave the best record in the East at 38-12, but head coach JoeMazzulla will not be eligible to coach since he served as the headcoach for the East All-Stars last season, paving the way forRivers. He is set to coach his players Giannis Antetokounmpo andDamian Lillard with Milwaukee being the only team to have twoAll-Star starters.

The 62-year-old Rivers has beenwith the Bucks for just 3 games this season after the organizationfired Adrian Griffin. He will coach the fourth All-Star Game of hiscareer with stints in 2008, 2011 and 2021.

However, Rivers explicitly saidin a postgame interview that he was stunned about the selection andthat maybe he’ll send his staff and go on a vacation.ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also reported that Rivers ‘plans’ to giveAdrian Griffin his All-Star ring and bonus. Griffin coached the Bucks earlier in the seasonand led them to a 30-14 record before gettingfired.

Over in the West, Finch receivesthe honor to coach the Western Conference All-Stars after leadingMinnesota to a West-leading 35-15 record.

The Timberwolves have clinchedthe best record in the West despite being tied with the Thunderstandings-wise by tiebreakers. Minnesota has a superior conferencerecord at 24-8 compared to OKC’s 21-11 to give Finch and his staffthe All-Star coaching nod for the first time in hiscareer.

Finch, 54, will be Minnesota’sfirst All-Star Game coach since Flip Saunders in 2004 and willcoach two All-Stars as well in Anthony Edwards and Karl-AnthonyTowns.