Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers spoke about his career trajectory on Sunday afternoon, crediting a trade to the New York Knicks and playing for Pat Riley as reasons becoming a coach:

Rivers spent his first eight seasons in Atlanta with the Hawks, blossoming as a point guard on a roster that also included Dominique Wilkins. He made his first and only All-Star appearance in the 1987-88 season, where he averaged 14.2 points, 9.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

Rivers went on to Los Angeles and was traded to New York just prior to the 1992-93 season in the trade which sent then-Knicks point guard Mark Jackson to the Clippers.

The Knicks were battling for Eastern Conference supremacy with Michael Jordan's Bulls during this period. They even took a 2-0 lead in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, but Jordan would score 54 points in Game 4 and the Bulls would win four straight to take the series.

Article Continues Below
More NBA News
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) guards Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the third quarter at Kia Center.
NBA news: Jalen Suggs, Tyrese Haliburton cousin truth has fans losing their mindsMalik Brown ·
Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) celebrates during the first half against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.
Khaman Maluach gets real on how Duke prepared him for NBA DraftJaren Kawada ·
NBA star LeBron James coaches from the bench during the Strive for Greatness and Mokan Elite basketball game at the fourth day of the Nike Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activities Center.
Lakers’ LeBron James bluntly puts potential coaching future to bedPreston Byers ·
Cedric Coward talks to the media during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago.
NBA rumors: Thunder, Spurs linked to rising draft starBenedetto Vitale ·
An overall view of the stadium before the game between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
ABC makes big Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals change fans will loveBrett Siegel ·
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center.
RUMOR: Kristaps Porzingis linked to Suns as Celtics explore trade optionsAlex House ·

New York would get revenge against the Bulls in the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals with Jordan in retirement, but Rivers played in just 19 games that season and missed the playoffs entirely. He was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs the next year.

Although he spent little more than two years with the Knicks and dealt with injuries whilst in the Big Apple, Riley clearly had a profound effect on Rivers.

Riley is one of the winningest coaches in NBA history and coached the Lakers dynasty of the 80s before earning his fifth ring with the Miami Heat in 2006.

Rivers won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and has had plenty of regular season success with both the Celtics and Clippers, but has not made an NBA Finals appearance since 2010.