National Basketball Association

Celtics' Rivers to have throat surgery

Published May. 17, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a non-cancerous growth from his throat, the Boston Herald reported.

The procedure will leave the NBA title-winning head coach unable to talk for two weeks.

"My wife will be the happiest person in the room about that," Rivers joked.

The 49-year-old underwent a similar procedure last October that forced him to miss a few practices after doctors discovered lesions on his throat. A biopsy at the time revealed the lesions to be non-cancerous.

Rivers said at the time he was urged to have his throat examined yearly by former Celtics coach Jim O'Brien.

"Jim O'Brien suggested it two or three years ago and said every coach should do it," said Rivers in October. "I'm glad I did it. I think most coaches should because we yell and use our throat a lot. It makes you more susceptible."

Rivers signed a five-year, $35 million contract extension Monday, less than a week after the Celtics were ousted from the playoffs by the Miami Heat.
 

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association