Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says he is staying with the team he led to the NBA finals twice in the last three seasons.

BOSTON (AP) – Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers  says he is staying with the team he led to the NBA finals twice in the last three seasons.

Rivers' decision was first reported in the Boston Herald. The Celtics coach said in a text message to The Boston Globe, "I want another crack at it with this group."

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck declined to comment on the coach's decision on Wednesday afternoon. But he said in an e-mail to

The Associated Press: "We are trying to build another contending team next year and hope Doc will be coaching it."

There was no answer at Rivers' Florida home. He did not immediately return a message left at his hotel in San Antonio, where he is watching his son, Austin, play in an international under-18 tournament.

Rivers had said he was thinking about taking some time off from coaching to spend more time with his family and watch his kids play sports. Rivers lives in the Orlando area in the offseason, and his family remains there.

Rivers has a career coaching record of 451-380, with a 46-40 playoff mark. With the Celtics, he is 280-212 with a 41-30 postseason record.

He guided Boston to a 66-16 record and the franchise's unprecedented 17th NBA title two years ago. This season, the Celtics returned to the NBA finals before losing in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He said last week that it was a difficult decision between two families: While he has missed the opportunity to watch his four children — all athletes — compete, he has grown close to the Celtics' players. He called Celtics general manager Danny Ainge "one of my best friends."

"You look around the league, and you don't see that," Rivers said after the NBA draft, adding that both players and management have lobbied him to stay. "They've been doing their jobs, I'll put it that way. So have the players. They've been very vocal in their support.

But that's good. We're very close."

Pierce to opt out, become free agent
ESPN.com  is reporting Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has notified the team he will opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent.

Pierce's agent, Jeff Schwartz, told ESPN.com in a text message Tuesday night the All-Star forward will forfeit next season's $21.5 million salary for a chance to sign a new four-year deal worth more than $90 million.

Schwartz did not immediately respond to a voicemail left by the AP.

Pierce would become an unrestricted free agent and join a loaded group of NBA stars, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who could be on the move starting Thursday at 12:01 a.m. (EDT).

E-mail from the AP to Celtics owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca were not immediately returned. (AP)