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For years, the sounds of Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy have articulated the NBA. They were the voices behind some of the iconic games. The duo shared an irreplaceable dynamic in the booth. Hence there will be an emptiness in the coming season due to ESPN firing them from their positions. But the media organization has done their job in replacing them with another basketball expert – an intellectual brain of the game. He is a former coach of the Boston Celtics – Doc Rivers.

Known for his most appearances in Game 7s, Rivers is a beacon of basketball knowledge. As he prepares for his new role, his former star player, Kevin Garnett had some flattering praise.

From Coach to Commentator

In the NBA fraternity, Doc Rivers is seen as one of the most decorated coaches of the modern game. He was the captain of some of the most iconic teams. One including Kevin Garnett was the Boston Celtics.

During their ‘Big 4′ era, Rivers’ tactics and mingling plays made sure all egos on the team swam in the same direction.

After his championship with the Celtics, he had various stints including the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. But following his recent firing from the Sixers, Rivers was a free agent. While no NBA team approached him for a head coach role, ESPN swooped in. They named Rivers a part of their broadcast team.

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ESPN is of course trying to fill a dense void that was left behind by Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson’s exit. What better way to do so than to get a true student of the game who operated through the modern system?

‘He’s going to absolutely murder it’

With the news still fresh, the Big Ticket and Paul Pierce discussed their former coach’s new role on the latest episode of their podcast – ‘Ticket and The Truth’. Previously, KG validated Charles Barkley’s claim of ESPN underpaying their employees. Now, he put the organization on notice for their newest addition. Well aware of Rivers’ insightful character, Garnett feels he will fit perfectly into the role of a broadcaster.

“First off, congratulations to Doc with getting this new venture with ESPN. I think he is going to absolutely murder it, I think he’s going to kill it. He’s great insight for the game. He [Paul Pierce] can attest to this, he has great knowledge. Not just the history but you know schemes. He’s a true coach and a true player,” Kevin Garnett said.

With Rivers being a former player and having diverse coaching experience, Garnett feels he can mind the right balance between both worlds and articulate the game appropriately.

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KG predicts the fans will respect Rivers’ insights into the game. Moreover, he also feels the celebrated coach can imitate Jackson and Van Gundy’s knowledge-heavy pairing.