LOS ANGELES (AP)– Mananatili si Doc Rivers sa Los Angeles Clippers ng lima pang taon.

Sa unang malaking hakbang ni Steve Ballmer bilang bagong may-ari ng koponan, binigyan niya si Rivers ng contract extension hanggang sa 2018-19 season.

Sinabi ni Ballmer kahapon na isa sa kanyang top priorities ang siguruhin na manatili si Rivers bilang long-term leader ng koponan. Si Rivers ang naging stabilizing force ng prangkisa sa kasagsagan ng kontrobersiya na kinasangkutan ng dating team owner na si Donald Sterling na naging daan upang patalsikin siya matapos ang 33 taon.

‘’Not only is Doc one of the best coaches and executives in the game, but he continually embodies the hardcore, committed and resilient character and winning culture that the Clippers represent,’’ pahayag ni Ballmer.

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Nagbigay ng testimonya si interim CEO Dick Parsons sa labanan sa korte ni Sterling at asawa nito at sinabing magbibitiw si Rivers kung mananalo si Sterling sa kaso.

‘’I didn’t think I was going to have to, honestly,’’ ani Rivers noong nakaraang linggo. ‘’But I think a lot of us would have been willing to, for sure.’’

At ngayon, mapapanatag na si Rivers dahil mayroon nang bagong team owner na mahal ang laro at malaki ang suporta sa koponan.

‘’With Steve’s leadership, we have this opportunity to be this great organization,’’ saad ni Rivers. ‘’That’s probably what makes me the most excited because I know if you get that part right, the basketball part will become easier in some ways, and that’s good.’’

Umanib si Rivers sa koponan noong Hunyo 2013 at naitalaga bilang president of basketball operations dalawang buwan na ang nakararaan.

Iginiya ng 52-anyos na coach ang Clippers sa pinakamagandang rekord ng prangkisa na 57-25 sa kasaysayan at ikalawang sunod na Pacific Division title noong nakaraang season. Natalo sila sa Oklahoma City sa ikalawang round ng playoffs.

Si Rivers ay mayroong career regular-season record na 644-498 at 70-64 playoff mark, at dati ring naging head coach ng Boston, kung saan nakopo niya ang 2008 NBA title, at Orlando.