The Milwaukee Bucks’ Doc Rivers and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Chris Finch have been named the coaches for their respective conferences in the upcoming 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

Rivers and his staff will get to coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars as the Bucks have clinched the best record in the East through games played on Feb. 4 among the teams with a head coach eligible for the All-Star game. 

The Boston Celtics technically have the best record in the East at 38-12, but head coach Joe Mazzulla will not be eligible to coach since he served as the head coach for the East All-Stars last season, paving the way for Rivers. He is set to coach his players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard with Milwaukee being the only team to have two All-Star starters. 

The 62-year-old Rivers has been with the Bucks for just 3 games this season after the organization fired Adrian Griffin. He will coach the fourth All-Star Game of his career with stints in 2008, 2011 and 2021.

However, Rivers explicitly said in a postgame interview that he was stunned about the selection and that maybe he’ll send his staff and go on a vacation. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also reported that Rivers ‘plans’ to give Adrian Griffin his All-Star ring and bonus. Griffin coached the Bucks earlier in the season and led them to a 30-14 record before getting fired. 

Over in the West, Finch receives the honor to coach the Western Conference All-Stars after leading Minnesota to a West-leading 35-15 record. 

The Timberwolves have clinched the best record in the West despite being tied with the Thunder standings-wise by tiebreakers. Minnesota has a superior conference record at 24-8 compared to OKC’s 21-11 to give Finch and his staff the All-Star coaching nod for the first time in his career. 

Finch, 54, will be Minnesota’s first All-Star Game coach since Flip Saunders in 2004 and will coach two All-Stars as well in Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.