Doc Rivers is in his first year back as an NBA analyst this season, and he’s already telling fun behind-the-scenes stories from his playing and coaching days.
While working the Lakers–Kings game on Wednesday night, the former 76ers coach launched into a story centered around Dennis Rodman babysitting his kids, including his son, NBA free agent Austin Rivers.
“It was a one time thing, but when I was in San Antonio, I wanted to go out, and we used Dennis Rodman for one night babysitting Austin and some of our kids,” Rivers said on the ESPN broadcast. “I don’t know if I’m parent of the year or the worst parent.”
His broadcast partner, Dave Pasch, then asked the question everyone was likely thinking: Why was Rodman, an infamous wild child, Rivers’s first choice?
“He was over at the house and he said ‘Hey, I can do that. I love babysitting,’” Rivers answered. “And he did it, he did a great job. The house was a mess.”
That one time Doc let Dennis Rodman babysit Austin Rivers 😂🔊 pic.twitter.com/jFvCbgFAp7
— ESPN (@espn) November 16, 2023
The babysitting most likely occurred during the 1994–95 season when both Rodman and Rivers were with the Spurs. It doesn’t seem like Rodman ever took up the job again, though, leaving the Rivers family with just a fantastic story to pass along.
