Doc Rivers LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a call during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on November 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Doc Rivers has seen Kobe Bryant inflict quite a bit of pain on his teams in the past. The 2010 NBA Finals probably still sticks in his craw, especially the way the Celtics lost in Game 7. But, as Doc and his Clippers trudge along towards inevitable doom in the playoffs, and Bryant trudges along with the hapless Lakers towards his big night in eight days, Rivers isn’t too sad to see Bryant hang up his shoes.

And that’s exactly how he responded when Rivers asked if he’d miss Bryant, via the LA Daily News.

“Not at all, not at all,” he said. “I’ll be very happy when Kobe retires. He’s inflicted pain on me personally and so I’m looking forward to it. Everybody else is lying. They’re saying, like, they want Kobe to keep playing and that’s not true. The guy, he’s inflicted pain on all of us.”

He may have only been half-joking at this point, though he did have this moment of brevity later, still tinged with a touch of sarcasm.

“On a serious note, it will be different not having him,” he said. “My son Spencer was 1, I think, when he (Bryant) came into the league. He’s still playing. It’s remarkable how long he’s played, how well he’s played and that part you’ll miss seeing. But I won’t actually miss him playing. No, I’m tired of seeing him play. He’s played too well.”

Rivers also pretended not to remember his Celtics’ loss in the 2010 Finals to Bryant and the Lakers.

“Something happened in 2010, I don’t remember what happened there,” he said with a smile. “I just remember how hard he was every night. I mean, he was just tough, physically. I thought both of those series, the mental part of Kobe is what stood out.”

The Clippers will honor Bryant in his final “road” game against them tonight at Staples Center, before the two teams play again “at” the Lakers on Wednesday in their final meeting of the season.

[LA Daily News]

About Matt Lichtenstadter

Recent Maryland graduate. I've written for many sites including World Soccer Talk, GianlucaDiMarzio.com, Testudo Times, Yahoo's Puck Daddy Blog and more. Houndstooth is still cool, at least to me. Follow me @MattsMusings1 on Twitter, e-mail me about life and potential jobs at matthewaaron9 at Yahoo dot com.