The well-deserved acknowledgements of LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers just keep on coming.
Doc Rivers has been named the winner of the prestigious 2018-2019 Rudy Tomjanovich Award, honoring an NBA coach for cooperation with media and fans, as well as excellence on the court.
The Rudy Tomjanovich Award is given annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, an organization including more than 200 writers and editors covering the NBA in print and online media. Doc is known as a press favorite, as he is thoughtful in his answers to the tough questions, and very giving of his time with reporters.
Doc’s winning ways with the press are nothing new, as he was also selected as the winner of this award in 2011-2012, when he was still with the Boston Celtics. And Doc is in stellar company — previous winners of the Rudy Tomjanovich Award include George Karl (Denver Nuggets), Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) and Stan Van Gundy (Detroit Pistons). Other coaches nominated this season were Kenny Atkinson (Brooklyn Nets), Mike D’Antoni (Houston Rockets), Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets) and Nate McMillan (Indiana Pacers).
This award is just the latest in a string of recognition of Doc’s incredible work on behalf of the Clippers. In addition to being named Western Conference Coach of the Month in both October and November 2018, Doc is also a finalist for Coach of the Year at the upcoming NBA Awards on June 24, alongside Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets.
And if that weren’t enough, Doc’s surprising and moving tribute to NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki is in the running for the fan-voted House of Highlights Moment of the Year at the upcoming NBA Awards.
Doc Rivers is a favorite of Clippers players and fans, Celtics players and fans, and the NBA community in general, and deservedly so. This exciting season filled with recognition for Doc is undoubtedly just a foreshadowing of more highlights ahead in Doc’s stellar career.