Sixers coach Doc Rivers preaches inclusion, open-mindedness

“We just need to learn, you know, just to understand each other and be more tolerant to each other," Rivers said.

Published April 26, 2021, 8:17 p.m. ET

Doc Rivers is all about equality, and inclusion.

That’s why the 76ers coach felt the team celebrating its annual Pride Night during Monday’s contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center was important. With no game on Sunday, the organization chose Monday as the night to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the anniversary of the historic sit-in at Dewey’s Restaurant in Center City on April 25, 1965.

The sit-in was a protest that came in response of the restaurant’s practice of denying service to customers who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The protest ultimately resulted in the restaurant becoming all-inclusive.

“No. 1, education, you know, open-mindedness ... inclusion,” Rivers said of why Monday’s Pride Night was important. “We just need to learn, you know, just to understand each other and be more tolerant to each other. So I think it’s important to have all these nights. And tonight is one of them.”

Maxey in the playoff rotation?

Tyrese Maxey averaged 7.4 points and 1.6 assists and 51 games with six starts heading into Monday’s game. The Sixers rookie averaged 12.5 points in the last four games.

Rivers was asked before the Thunder game if he’s seen enough from Maxey to use him in the postseason rotation.

“I don’t know if he’s gonna be in the regular rotation or not,” Rivers said. “But I have no, no doubt that he’ll play in the playoffs. I’m fully confident of that and fully confident of him. We’re gonna have them all ready. And then when the playoffs start, we’ll see who will play. But I would have no hesitation of putting him in.”