As the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Doc Rivers surely had some insider knowledge on his team's signing of reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Nevertheless, this did nothing to take away from the absolute joy and excitement the 57-year-old coach felt as soon as he learned about the deal finally being confirmed.
ESPN's Ramouna Shelburne recounts the exact moment Rivers heard about the Clippers finally agreeing to terms with Kawhi.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers was at dinner at Nobu, an upscale sushi restaurant in Malibu, with a group of friends. He’d been told to stay close to his phone all night, knowing the deals for George and Leonard were close. Finally, the text from Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, came in: “It’s done. Call me as soon as you can.”
What a memorable dinner that must have been for Rivers. Surely, that is one eventful evening he isn't going to forget anytime soon.
The one-time NBA champion coach himself admitted that he could not contain his reaction once he heard the news.
“I remember going, like, ‘Yessss!’” Rivers said. “And the security guard was like, ‘I got a feeling I know what that ‘yes’ is about.’”
It's hard to blame Rivers for his rather scandalous reaction. Any one else in his shoes would have probably responded in a similar way after coming to terms with the fact that you will now have one of the best players in the game today at your disposal for the coming season.
Follow Us
Subscribe