Doc Rivers reflects on Ben Simmons split in ESPN's 'Being Ben' documentary

Simmons said Rivers panicked to save his job after Game 7.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Doc Rivers reflects on how things ended between him and Ben Simmons 👀 Stream "Being Ben" on the ESPN App and Disney+ ht Via @ESPNNBA on X

What happened: Doc Rivers addressed the end of his coaching tenure with Ben Simmons following the guard's criticism over their 2021 playoff exit. Speaking for the E60 and Andscape documentary 'Being Ben', Rivers stated that he feels bad for Simmons and noted the decisive postseason play will likely stay with the guard forever.

Why it matters: Rivers' remarks follow Simmons' public comments accusing his former head coach of throwing him under the bus in the aftermath of the series loss. The retrospective airs during the 2026-27 NBA preseason after Rivers transitioned to broadcasting as a game analyst for NBA on NBC.

What to watch: The full 'Being Ben' feature is available on the ESPN App and Disney+ ahead of the 2026-27 NBA opening week slate.

Sources

@ESPNNBA 2026-10-18T20:41:22.152798+00:00

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