Doc Rivers wins PBWA’s 2018-19 Rudy Tomjanovich Award

Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers has won the 2018-19 Rudy Tomjanovich Award, which honors an NBA coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.

Rivers led the Clippers to a 48-34 record and a playoff berth in his sixth season as their coach.

Rivers is generous with his time with the working press and is thoughtful with his answers to reporters’ questions.

The PBWA selected five finalists for the award. The other finalists were Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets, Mike D’Antoni of the Houston Rockets, Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers.

PBWA members selected Rivers as the winner through a vote. Rivers previously won the award for the 2011-12 season, when he coached the Boston Celtics.

The award is named for Rudy Tomjanovich, a former Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers coach who always was professional and respectful while dealing with the media. During his 13 seasons as an NBA head coach, Tomjanovich compiled a 527-416 regular-season record and a 51-39 postseason record. His Rockets won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA on a regular basis for newspapers, online news outlets and magazines.

Rudy Tomjanovich Award winners
2010-11 Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz
2011-12 Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics
2012-13 George Karl, Denver Nuggets
2013-14 Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
2014-15 Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
2015-16 Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors
2016-17 Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
2017-18 Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
2018-19 Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers

(Photo of Doc Rivers: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBA Photos)