Sixers coach Doc Rivers added more accolades to his long list of career accomplishments

TORONTO — Doc Rivers’ list of coaching milestones continues to grow.

On Wednesday, he nabbed his 101st playoff victory and has sole possession of fourth place on the list for all-time postseason wins for an NBA coach. Rivers picked up the win as the 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 104-101 in overtime in Game 3 of their opening-round series.

Rivers had been tied with former Sixers coach Larry Brown for fourth with 100 victories. Before that, he was tied with Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Red Auerbach at 99 victories after Game 1.

“Obviously, anything that your name is mentioned to Red Auerbach is pretty cool,” Rivers said. “I didn’t even know that. … Honestly, I know all of that is great. But you know that’s not why I’m doing it. I want to win and just win every time we play.

“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve done a lot of winning. But being a winner is why you do it. And that’s what I’m chasing.”

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In conjunction with the NBA 75th anniversary, Rivers was named one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history before the NBA All-Star break.

The 60-year-old passed Rick Adelman for ninth all-time in NBA regular-season coaching victories during the Sixers’ regular-season finale. He has compiled a 1043-735 regular-season record in stops with the Orlando Magic, Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Sixers.

Rivers was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2000 with the Magic. In addition to leading the Celtics to the title, Rivers had a hand in changing the culture and perception of the Clippers.

While he downplayed his recent accolades, it’s still a rare accomplishment. Phil Jackson has the most playoff victories with 229. Pat Riley is second on that list at 171, followed by Gregg Popovich at 170.

“It’s amazing, it’s nice,” Rivers said of reaching 100 victories. “But, again, it’s not my focus. It’s amazing how many texts you get about it. I literally just group text and say thank you, because that’s not where I’m at right now.

“I don’t have time to look at what I’m doing. I want to focus on where I’m going.”

There was a time when it was believed that an NBA team needed its roster loaded with 30-year-old veterans to win a title.

“I don’t know if the age 30 is right anymore,” Rivers said, pointing out the Golden State Warriors had young players in their 2015, 2017, and 2018 championship runs.

“And everyone doesn’t have to be [30 years old],” he continued. “We won a title in Boston [in 2008], and [Rajon] Rondo was in his second year as a point guard and center Perk [Kendrick Perkins] was 23. But we also had some veterans with that group.”

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The Sixers and Raptors are testaments to that statement, with players under 30 leading the way on both sidelines. Even though the Raptors are the younger team, they might have more experience than the Sixers. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Chris Boucher were all members of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team.

“So they have gone all the way through the wars,” Rivers said. “And I think that’s the real experience you need is playoffrun experience.”