Leadership, Winning, and the Fallacy of Luck: Insights from Doc Rivers and Donald Sterling

Renowned basketball coach Doc Rivers participated in a comprehensive interview with CNN This Morning's Poppy Harlow, discussing his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers and his experience dealing with the Donald Sterling racism case. Sterling was ultimately banned from the league and required to sell the team following his racist comments. Rivers also shared insights on how coaching extends to everyday life and reflected on his 2008 NBA Championship win with the Boston Celtics.

Here are Rivers thoughts that have been lightly edited for clarity.

On the 2014 Donald Sterling case

Poppy Harlow: So let's go back to 2014, the NBA playoffs. A new coach in his first season, and the Donald Sterling tapes are released. The team downplays it, but when you finally listen, how did you react?

Doc Rivers: It was interesting. I was in my room and the PR guy brings up the video saying, "You need to look at this." I initially brushed it off, as Andy had told me it was not a big deal. But then he insists it's a major issue. So I watch it and I'm shocked. I was unprepared for how to handle the situation with the team. Looking back, there were many steps that could have gone wrong, but thankfully, they went right for our guys. The first step was when it was leaked on ESPN, and we called a team meeting. I didn't know what to do - should I wear a Clippers shirt?

Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was spotted at the NBA playoff game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors on April 21, 2014 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on April 26 that the NBA is looking into Sterling's alleged racist remarks. (Photo credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

NBA commissioner bans Clippers owner Sterling, pushes to force a sale of team

PH: Do I feel a sense of belonging in this organization?

DR: Yes, I do. As the head coach, I made sure that my players were dressed in their practice gear. But when I went downstairs, I saw that half of them weren't. It was definitely a mistake, and when I addressed it, things didn't go as planned for the first 10 minutes. Thankfully, I was able to read the room and adjust accordingly.

PH: And what have you been reading and seeing lately?

DR: I've been observing negative body language, which is something the coach constantly looks for. I noticed individuals with folded arms and got the sense that they thought I was aligned with their thoughts during the speech. This made me realize that I didn't want any of my players to inadvertently contribute to a negative narrative. It caused me to panic at the thought.

DR: I didn't want my players to feel pressured to speak out. I was incredibly angry about what Donald Sterling did, and I wanted the attention to remain on him, not my players. I told them that we were about to head to the media. It was almost like I felt lucky when I thought about it, but I never anticipated it would become as big of a story as it did. At the time, I viewed it as a sports story, an American story.

The LA Clippers players made a powerful statement by removing their warm up jackets and wearing their shirts inside-out before their playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. This act served as a protest against the racist remarks made by Sterling, showing their unity and standing up against discrimination.

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/Getty Images

On dealing with the pressure of the Sterling situation during the Clippers playoff series against the Golden State Warriors

DR: So before the first game in Golden State, Im not on the floor until five seconds before the tip-off.

PH: Why?

I'm arguing with Donald Sterling and Clippers President Andy Roeser on the phone, trying to convince Donald not to come to the game.

DR: I raised my voice to the owner and team president, insisting that Donald Sterling not be allowed to come. I even threatened to have the police meet him at the door, but I knew I didn't have that power. I couldn't understand how they didn't realize that having him sit across from our bench would be a disaster.

DR: I was the only thing. It was the owner, the president, and then it was me. So I walk out… and I said, "Were going to lose by 50 points."

PH: But it wasnt about the game.

DR: It wasnt about the game. It really wasnt.

PH: The whole NBA, all the teams came together.

DR: They united and Adam Silver was truly impressive. I had complete faith in Adam. I distinctly recall breaking down and immediately calling Adam for assistance. I told him, "I need help."

PH: Did you call him while crying?

Rivers with his Clippers team in the pandemic-disrupted 2019/20 season, his final year with the franchise.

David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

On his prized possession, a boxing glove signed by Muhammad Ali

PH: What does this mean to you?

DR: This boxing glove holds a lot of significance. First off, it's signed by Muhammad Ali, so that alone is impressive. But beyond that, it symbolizes a difficult time in my life. When our house was set on fire by arsonists, this glove and an Ali photo were the only things saved by RC Buford, who risked his life to retrieve them. The fire destroyed everything else, and it was a reminder of the racism and hatred I faced simply because of the color of my skin.

PH: What comes to mind besides him and that moment? What principles did he represent?

DR: Yeah, he represented himself, along with Bill Russell and Arthur Ashe, athletes who were champions of social justice. It's interesting how things have come full circle. There was a long period of silence. In my generation, athletes didn't speak out much. It's a reminder of what Ali faced and the challenges he fought, not just in the war... So that's what [the glove] reminds me of: we still live in a country that hasn't reconciled itself from a history of wrongdoing.

On what it takes to be a champion and his 2008 championship run with the Boston Celtics

Rivers and the Celtics celebrate after winning the 2008 NBA Finals in six games against the LA Lakers.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

DR: Yes, I make it a point to acknowledge my humanness and the possibility of making mistakes at the start of every season with my players. I emphasize that I will strive to do my best but there may be errors along the way. I hope that they are skilled enough to compensate for any slip-ups, and if not, we can work through them together as a team on this journey.

PH: That's a true display of vulnerability. I've noticed that you encourage your players to "open their hearts." Can you elaborate on that?

DR: I think in order to become a champion, you need to open up your heart. You have to take a leap of faith, take risks, and step out of your comfort zone. It's about giving yourself fully to the team and setting aside your own ego. When you do that, it all comes back to you.

DR: In Game Four of the 2008 Finals, despite being down 24 points, the team was able to come back because we truly believed that we deserved to win the world championship. We had a vision and a belief that we could achieve it. We didn't rely on luck, we had to go out and work for it. We focused on narrowing the gap and never gave up.

PH: Did you say that to them?

DR: Yes, every time out. "Let's bring it to six." And when we did, I was on the court, shouting, "Now it's our game. We're here. We're back." I kept saying it over and over because I needed them to believe it too.

PH: How do you harness the power and egos of the players in the room to work together with you?

DR: It's a continuous effort. You have to constantly sell the idea and gain their trust. You need to get them to let their guard down and think beyond themselves every single day. Don't get discouraged when they don't, because it's all about the bigger picture.

On coaching life

After spending 21 years on the sideline, Rivers has recently pivoted away from coaching and stepped into a broadcasting role with ESPN for the current season.

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

PH: Do you see yourself as a teacher in various aspects?

DR: Absolutely, I consider myself a teacher. As a coach, I've come to realize that I'm not just coaching the game of basketball; I'm coaching life. By coaching life, I enable my players to excel on the basketball court and beyond.

PH: You've mentioned coaching the man someone is becoming rather than the man they currently are. Can you elaborate on that?

DR: A player came into my office feeling frustrated with my coaching style. I asked him if he believed he had the potential to become an All-Star. He expressed his ambition to do so. I explained that I wasn't focused on coaching him as he currently is, but rather coaching him towards the player he aspires to be. I emphasized the importance of pushing him to reach his full potential and how achieving that would bring satisfaction to both of us. This approach significantly improved our relationship.

You mentioned that early on as a coach, you made a mistake in thinking that you were just a coach.

Yes, some of these players have become like my own children in some ways. Many of them still keep in touch, and I haven't been perfect with all of them. I've had some difficult relationships with a few. I've learned that this doesn't make the person bad, and it doesn't make me bad either. Sometimes relationships just don't work, and not everyone is going to love you. But you have to love them, that's a fact. In my opinion, to be a great coach, or in any role, you have to open your heart to every single individual that comes through the door, and you have to give it your all. In many cases, they may not reciprocate, and that has to be okay.