Induction Overview
Doc Rivers, the veteran NBA coach whose career spans 27 years across five franchises, will be welcomed into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 15. The ceremony will take place in Springfield, Massachusetts, where Rivers will be honored alongside a distinguished group of inductees.
The announcement comes as the Hall of Fame reveals its 2023 class, a roster that includes veteran referee Joey Crawford, offensive mastermind Mike D'Antoni, and the 1996 U.S. women's national team that captured Olympic gold. Also joining the ceremony are former players Amar'e Stoudemire, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the game.
Celtics Legacy
Among the presenters, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will take the stage to introduce Rivers. Both former Celtics stars share a deep connection with the coach; Pierce spent 15 seasons in Boston and was a cornerstone of the 2008 championship team, while Garnett, a six‑year Celtic, earned the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year and helped anchor the club’s resurgence.
Rivers’ own résumé reads like a chronicle of NBA milestones. After a playing stint that included a championship as a backup guard for the New York Knicks, he transitioned to coaching, eventually guiding the Boston Celtics to a title in the 2007‑08 season. His .577 career winning percentage and 1999‑2000 Coach of the Year award underscore a longevity that few have matched.
The induction ceremony will also spotlight the broader impact of the 1996 women's team, whose gold‑medal performance helped elevate women's basketball onto a national stage. Their inclusion signals a continued effort by the Hall to recognize trailblazers across gender and era.