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Celtics coach rivers accepts new deal

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-15 07:52

Doc Rivers has agreed to a fresh five-year deal to remain head coach of the Boston Celtics and take the franchise into a new era, the NBA team said on Friday.

Rivers's existing contract was set to expire at the end of this season and he had initially planned to take a break from coaching to watch his son play college basketball.

However, the 49-year-old changed his mind after Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge approached him before the start of the playoffs about a possible return.

"I think Doc is the best coach in the league, so it's great for us to have him around," Ainge said at the team's practise facility. "Doc has always known that we've wanted him and that offer was on the table. As the playoffs first started, we started that conversation again."

Ainge did not disclose further details of Rivers' new deal but local media estimate the contract extension to be worth $35 million.

"Doc wants to be here," Ainge said. "It's not all because he thinks that over the next five years we're going to have the best team in the NBA.

"He's part of this franchise ... and he's willing to do whatever it takes to help us be successful."

After the Celtics were eliminated from the Eastern Conference semifinals in five games by the Miami Heat on Wednesday, Rivers had said he was "leaning heavily" toward coming back.

Reuters