NBA Legends, New Seasons, and Farewells: A Basketball Story for Everyone

Welcome! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just learning what a "triple-double" is, this guide breaks down the biggest NBA stories right now—from a legendary coach entering the Hall of Fame to the most exciting games coming up next season.

Doc Rivers: A Coach’s Journey to the Hall of Fame

Doc Rivers has been an NBA head coach for 27 years. Think of him like a teacher who’s led 27 different classrooms—except his "students" are professional basketball players, and the "tests" are playoff games.

His Report Card

Only 4 losing seasons in 27 years (that’s like getting an A+ almost every year)
21 playoff appearances (the postseason tournament where the best teams compete)
1 championship (with the Boston Celtics in 2008)

Important Point: In the NBA, only one team wins the championship each year. Doc compares it to asking someone to marry you 99 times and getting rejected—but that one "yes" makes it all worth it.

The Heartbreaks That Stuck With Him

Year	Team	What Happened
2010	Celtics	Lost Finals Game 7 to the Lakers (the ultimate heartbreaker)
2015	Clippers	Blew a 3-1 series lead vs. Rockets (won 3 games, then lost 3 in a row)
2020	Clippers	Blew another 3-1 lead vs. Nuggets in the "Bubble" (NBA played in Disney World during COVID)

The 2020 loss hurt most because it was the first year of the Kawhi Leonard + Paul George superstar duo. A win would’ve set up a dream showdown vs. the rival Lakers.

Wisdom from a Legend

Bill Belichick (famous NFL coach) told him: "Either you land the plane or it’s a crash landing." Dramatic? Yes. But that’s how Doc operated—intense, all-in, hates losing.
Pat Riley (another legendary coach) once said: "You need to celebrate the good days better." Doc admits he didn’t do that enough—until now.

Why He Stepped Away (For Now)

He’s 64 years old with 7 grandkids (Kayden, Carter, and more!)
Last season with the Bucks: 32-50 record (more losses than wins)
Family was "the only toll"—he missed school plays, visits, phone calls
Hall of Fame induction finally let him pause, celebrate, and reconnect with old players and assistant coaches

Key Takeaway: Doc isn’t retiring forever—he wants to "work, but not as a coach." He’s taking his time to figure out what’s next.

The Top 5 Must-Watch Games of the 2026-27 NBA Season

The schedule just dropped. Here are the 5 games you should circle on your calendar, explained simply:

1. 76ers @ Knicks — October 20 (Opening Night!)

Why it matters: Two best teams in the East on paper.
Storylines:
- Jaylen Brown makes his 76ers debut (he used to play for the Celtics!)
- Knicks are defending champs—everyone’s gunning for them
- No team has repeated as champs since 2018 (Warriors)

2. Thunder @ Spurs — October 20 (Same Night!)

West Coast rivalry with both teams retooled.
Thunder traded away veterans for youth + cap space (rookies Jared McCain and Aday Mara join)
Spurs hope De’Aaron Fox bounces back from a rough Finals + added Tobias Harris

3. Heat @ Bucks — January 28

Giannis Antetokounmpo (superstar forward) returns to Milwaukee after 13 years—now wearing a Heat jersey!
Bucks rebuilt (got players + draft picks from Miami)
Heat: could be a top-6 seed or play-in team (the mini-tournament for final playoff spots)

4. Wizards @ Hawks — November 6

Trae Young (star guard) returns to Atlanta after 7+ years as their face—now on the Wizards!
Wizards loaded up: Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, and rookie sensation AJ Dybantsa (from Brockton, MA!)
Hawks added Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, re-signed CJ McCollum—could be 3rd best in East

5. Celtics @ Lakers — January 7

The NBA’s greatest rivalry—both teams retooled, both predicted to take a step back.
Celtics: Jayson Tatum healthy (came back from torn Achilles!), plus Paul George, Derrick White, Mitchell Robinson
Lakers: Let LeBron James, Marcus Smart, others walk. New faces: Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili

Russell Westbrook: Saying Goodbye to a Triple-Double Machine

Russell Westbrook retired at 37—and it shocked people because he could still play.

What’s a "Triple-Double"?

ELI5: In one game, you get double-digits (10+) in THREE categories:

Points (scoring)

Rebounds (grabbing missed shots)

Assists (passes that lead to scores)

Westbrook did this SO MUCH he holds the ALL-TIME RECORD.

Why People Criticized Him

"Stat chasing" = putting up big numbers but not winning deep in playoffs
Best title chance: 2012 with Thunder (up 1-0 vs. Heat, then lost 4 straight)
Famous breakup with Kevin Durant (teammates → rivals)

The Redemption Arc

Kevin Durant posted a touching tribute on social media
Last season (Kings): 15.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG in 64 games—still productive!
Don’t be surprised if a contender calls him mid-season for backup point guard help

Important Point: Westbrook was one of the most maligned first-ballot Hall of Famers ever—but now he’s finally getting the respect he deserves as a fierce competitor.

Extra Basketball Notes & News

Celtics Season Opener: 3 PM on October 20

Why so early? NBA wants European fans to watch in primetime!
It kicks off a tripleheader: Celtics-Pistons → 76ers-Knicks → Thunder-Spurs
Christmas Day: Celtics vs. Giannis + Heat (rematch of that Jan 28 game!)

Farewell to Don Nelson

Coaching legend ("Nellie Ball") + Celtics player (11 seasons, 5 championships)
Most famous shot: Game 7, 1969 Finals—clanged off back of rim, trickled in → Celtics win 108-106
Final game for Bill Russell and Sam Jones (legends)

Peyton Watson (Nuggets) Still Unsigned

Restricted free agent (Nuggets can match any offer)
Wants more than Christian Braun’s $125M/5yr deal
Averaged 14.6 PPG last year, scored more each of 4 seasons
Clippers & Cavaliers trying to clear cap space to sign him

Summary: What You Need to Know

Topic	Bottom Line
Doc Rivers	Hall of Famer, 27-yr career, 1 ring, many heartbreaks, now prioritizing grandkids
Top 5 Games	Oct 20 doubleheader (76ers-Knicks + Thunder-Spurs), Giannis vs Bucks (Jan 28), Trae Young return (Nov 6), Celtics-Lakers (Jan 7)
Russell Westbrook	Retired at 37, triple-double king, criticized for stats over wins, now getting his flowers
Other News	Celtics 3 PM opener for Europe, Don Nelson remembered, Peyton Watson seeking big payday

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What is the "second apron" mentioned with the Knicks/Clippers?

Think of the salary cap like a household budget. The "first apron" is a strict spending limit. The "second apron" is an even stricter limit with harsher penalties (can’t sign certain players, lose draft picks). Teams avoid it to stay flexible.

2. What’s the "play-in tournament"?

Teams ranked 7th–10th in each conference play a mini-tournament for the final 2 playoff spots (7 & 8 seeds). It keeps more teams "alive" later in the season.

3. Why did the Celtics play at 3 PM on a Tuesday?

The NBA wants to grow globally. 3 PM ET = 8–9 PM in Europe—primetime for international viewers. It’s a test to see if early starts become a new tradition.

4. What’s a "restricted free agent" (like Peyton Watson)?

The player’s current team (Nuggets) has the right to match any offer from another team. If they match, the player stays. If not, he leaves.

5. How rare is Doc Rivers’ 21 playoff appearances in 27 years?

Extremely rare. Most coaches get fired after 2–3 bad seasons. Doc’s consistency (only 4 losing seasons) is a huge part of his Hall of Fame case.

Final Thought: The NBA is a soap opera of legends fading, stars moving, teams rebuilding, and new heroes rising. Whether you watch for the X’s and O’s or the human stories—there’s never a dull moment.

Article based on Gary Washburn’s Boston Globe column. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.

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