|
 Rivers has agreed to a contract that will keep him in Los Angeles
through the end of the National Basketball Association's 2018-19
season, though specific terms of the deal were not disclosed by the
Clippers on Wednesday.
"This is an important day for this organization," Ballmer, the
former head of Microsoft who paid an NBA-record $2 billion for the
Clippers, said in a statement.
"I am excited to work with Doc for a long time as we build a
championship culture that will deliver results both on and off the
court.
"Not only is Doc one of the best coaches and executives in the game,
but he continually embodies the hard core, committed and resilient
character and winning culture that the Clippers represent. It was
one of my top priorities to ensure that he was firmly in place as
the long-term leader of this team."
Rivers took over as head coach in June 2013 and guided the team to
the best record in franchise history, at 57-25, last season and a
second straight Pacific Division title.
However, he had threatened not to return for the 2014-15 season if
disgraced former owner Donald Sterling remained associated with the
Clippers.
Rivers was a steady voice of calm and reason during an ugly saga
involving Sterling, who was banned by the NBA for life over racist
remarks he made four months ago which sparked public outrage and
caused sponsors to quit.
Following protracted legal wrangling, a California appeals court
earlier this month rejected Sterling's last-ditch attempt to block
the sale of the team to Ballmer, and the 58-year-old tech
billionaire finally took over as the new owner.
[to top of second column] |
"Steve has shown a clear and determined desire to make the Clippers one of
the most elite, first-class and championship organizations in all of
professional sports," Rivers, 52, said on Wednesday.
"We know we have work to do to get there, but I am motivated by the
challenge and thankful for the opportunity to stand together with Steve
as we continue to move toward our goal of winning an NBA title."
Entering his 16th season as a head coach, Rivers is one of just three
active coaches, along with Gregg Popovich and Flip Saunders, to have won
at least 600 NBA games.
A former Clippers point guard, Rivers was the NBA's 1999-2000 coach of
the year and went on to lead the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA
Championship.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Frank Pingue)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
