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Doc Rivers’ decision to defect from ESPN and return to the bench is reportedly a lucrative move for the new Milwaukee Bucks head coach.

As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Rivers is signing a contract through the 2026-27 campaign that will pay him around $40 million.

Bucks spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.

Milwaukee is currently still paying former coaches Mike Budenholzer, who won a тιтle with the team in 2021, and the recently fired Adrian Griffin, who went 30-13 and had the team in second place at the time of his dismissal.

A long-time point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, Rivers is now best known as a coach after winning an NBA тιтle with the Boston Celtics in 2007-08.

Rivers is signing a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that is reportedly worth around $40 million

The Bucks initially replaced Adrian Griffin (left) with Joe Prunty (right) on an interim basis 

Over stints with the Orlando Magic, Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, Rivers is 1,860-1,097 with a 215-111 postseason mark.

He was fired in 2023 after 76ers fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the third consecutive season.

Rivers accepted an analyst position with ESPN this season and was reportedly consulting for Griffin before replacing his pupil in Milwaukee. 

Griffin was initially replaced with ᴀssistant Joe Prunty on an interim basis. 

Bucks players appeared to be enthusiastic about the trade when they were doing a choreographed dance on Wednesday.  

Led by a smiling Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks players joyfully danced around in a circle with each other before their 126-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

It was certainly not the atmosphere you would expect to see from a team who saw their coach get fired just 24 hours earlier. 

Fans took notice and criticized them for looking so happy. One wrote on X: ‘Being happy that y’all got a coach fired is krazy’.

Another posted: ‘Damn, did they throw a party after Griffin got fired?’

‘Wow they really hated that dude huh?’, said another. 

A report on Tuesday claimed the players had ‘lost faith’ in Griffin, ultimately leading to his shocking dismissal. It’s claimed several veterans, including Antetokounmpo, were no longer on board with his methods after one half of the NBA season.  

😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/mF2Xx0SWRC

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 25, 2024

Bucks players have been criticized for dancing around the court after Adrian Griffin was fired

The speculation following Griffin’s firing was that he had lost the locker room in Milwaukee 

The unrest at the helm, per Sports Illustrated, had been making the rounds through NBA circles ‘for weeks.’

On Wednesday, Antetokounmpo was asked about his role in the hiring and firing of Griffin. 

‘I don’t make that decision,’ he told reporters. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I wish I did, you know? I wish I did. But I don’t. I really, really don’t. I just try to stick with basketball.’ 

The Bucks are obviously facing championship expectations in in Milwaukee following the off-season trade that brought in perennial All-Star Damian Lillard.

Milwaukee has been strong in a number of offensive areas this season, ranking third in field-goal percentage, for instance.

However, the defense has been underwhelming, allowing opponents to make 44.8 percent of their field goals – worse than all but three NBA teams.