Doc Rivers and Kevin McHale’s history goes back to Celtics vs. Hawks

Clippers coach Doc Rivers and Rockets coach Kevin McHale have some history.

The two played against each other several times when they were both in the NBA. Rivers was a point guard who spent the majority of his career in Atlanta, while McHale was a center in Boston.

Rivers said he didn’t have a favorite memory playing against McHale.

“He won them all,” Rivers said. “So being with the Hawks, I was in a lot of series with him. Right now, I will take Kevin one-on-one right now. I’ve seen him move up and down. I don’t move very well but I move better than him.”

Rivers said he always enjoyed playing against McHale, largely because of McHale’s love of the game.

“He was a fun guy to play against because he is like he coaches, he keeps things loose,” Rivers said. “That’s how he played. He would always ask me at what point we were going to trap him because he wanted to know when he had to shoot the ball. He was always like I am shooting it either way but I want to know when you are trapping me.”

Rivers said the two still have a very good relationship. And while he doesn’t expect McHale to do a lot of trash talking during this series, he has heard a lot from him before.

“Yeah, Kevin is a big trash talker,” Rivers said. “And he was winning so what could I say? I had to take it.”

Jenny Dial Creech