
Rivers predicted stardom for Gilgeous-Alexander, but says Thunder star has exceeded expectations
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers says he saw star potential in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while coaching him as a rookie before the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to Oklahoma City.
But the veteran coach concedes that Gilgeous-Alexander, of Hamilton, Ont., has drastically outperformed those expectations.
“I don’t think anybody in the world saw this in him,” said Rivers, who coached the Clippers from 2013-20. “We did think he was going to be really, really good. I thought he was going to be a star. I said it when we traded him. But to see this, I don’t think anyone can honestly say they knew he was going to be this special.”
Rivers was speaking before his Milwaukee Bucks lost 121-105 to Gilgeous-Alexander’s Western Conference-leading Thunder on Sunday night.