Summary clip of the week 1.2/Sport1
After recording his first win as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers earned a ticket to the All-Star Game.
The Bucks beat Dallas 117:129, and the victory earned Rivers and his team the prestigious appointment, and they will be the coaches of the East against the West on February 18 in Indianapolis.
This is a puzzling decision, no doubt, but there was no choice.
Since being appointed Milwaukee coach on January 26, Rivers has a 2:1 record.
He said he intends to give his All-Star ring and the bonus to Adrian Griffin, the coach who went 13:30 as the Bucks coach before being fired and replaced by Rivers.
"It's ridiculously bad. Really," Rivers said of receiving the All-Star after one win.
"Well, Adrien's going to get some money, that's for sure. And a ring. It's one of those weird things. I think there should be a law about it."
Yes, it is unusual.
Rivers/GettyImages, Sam Hodde
Milwaukee is 16:33, four games behind Boston, but will have the best record in the East among teams with coaches who can coach All-Stars.
The Celtics are tied 12:37, but Joe Mazzola coached in last year's All-Star Game, eliminating his candidacy this season.
"Is he going to coach the game?"
Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo asked in surprise, looking stunned.
"It's pretty funny," Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard said.
Antetokounmpo, who had 48 points, 10 assists and 5 steals, noted that Milwaukee's assistant coaches deserve respect.
"I'm definitely happy for them," he said.
"It's a lot of hard work that paid off."
Incidentally, the last time a replacement coach received the All-Star was when Tyronn Lue replaced David Blatt in Cleveland during the 2015/16 season.
"Maybe I'll send my team and go on vacation," Rivers said, "I'm going to talk to Adam Silver about it. I think Adam's a good person, he'll understand."
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