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Celtics legend Ray Allen confirms decision on Doc Rivers’ Hall of Fame induction appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Doc Rivers is getting the full reunion treatment at his Hall of Fame induction. Ray Allen confirmed he will join Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett as presenters for Rivers’ enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 15 in Springfield, Massachusetts, completing the Celtics’ championship “Big Three” for the occasion.
Rivers had originally selected Pierce and Garnett to introduce him, and Allen’s addition rounds out the trio that helped deliver Boston’s 17th title.
Rivers coached the Celtics for nine seasons, taking over in 2004 before Boston’s front office reshaped the roster ahead of the 2007-08 campaign, acquiring Garnett from Minnesota and Allen from Seattle to pair with franchise cornerstone Pierce.
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The move sparked a 42-game turnaround, with the newly formed Big Three, alongside a young Rajon Rondo, leading Boston to 66 regular-season wins and, ultimately, the franchise’s first championship since 1986.
That title remains the signature achievement of Rivers’ 27-year coaching career, which has also included stops with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and, most recently, the Milwaukee Bucks. Rivers stepped down from that role in April after a disappointing 32-50 season, with the two sides still discussing whether he will move into an advisory position with the organization going forward.
His 1,194 career wins rank sixth all-time among NBA head coaches, trailing only legends like Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, and Lenny Wilkens.
Rivers’ induction has not been without controversy. Reaction to his selection was mixed when it was first announced, with critics pointing to a career pattern of blown playoff leads and underachieving rosters, particularly during his time with the Clippers and 76ers, as reasons to question whether one championship in nearly three decades merits enshrinement.
Supporters countered that his sustained success across multiple franchises and 21 playoff appearances speak for themselves.
Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are all already enshrined as players, with Allen inducted in 2018, Garnett in 2020, and Pierce in 2021. Their presence together in Springfield will mark a full-circle moment for the group that changed the course of Celtics history nearly two decades ago, joining a 2026 class that also includes Amar’e Stoudemire, Candace Parker, and Elena Delle Donne.
Related: NBA rumors: Multiple writers craft Stephen Curry trade hypotheticals for Celtics that won’t happen
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