Doc Rivers on DeAndre Jordan: He’s like a kid to me. He's a special player in my coaching career

For those who haven't seen it, this is probably the best I could find of the DeAndre Jordan/Doc Rivers embrace in the 3rd quarter. #Clippers pic.twitter.com/LAl6i6q5SI

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 12 aprile 2018

DeAndre Jordan will be free agent from July 1.
During the Clippers-Lakers game, Doc Rivers pulled Jordan out of the game for the final time of the season, and potentially, for the final time as a member of the Clippers. Jordan and Rivers then shared an embrace.

Per Clutchpoints, “I basically told him I love him,” explained Rivers. “DJ’s been great for me. We don’t know what he’s going to do and that could possibly be the last game. I hope not obviously. DJ and I are very close. I challenged him when I took this job. I asked him to be one of the best defensive players, once of the best rebounders, and he took that title and ran with it. I’m just proud of him. He’s like a kid to me.
“I don’t think people understand what coaches go through. They have these bonds with these guys and sometimes they get broken because of free agency, sometimes they get broken because you don’t get where you want to get. you make moves, bitterness and all that stuff. But as ac coach, one thing I’ve learned is that you give each player your heart. Most of the time they embrace it, sometimes they crush it and you still do it every year. You do it every day and that’s DJ with me. He’s a special, special player in my coaching career.”