Doc Rivers said the talent on the Philadelphia 76ers was too enticing for him not to agree to become their next head coach just days after the Los Angeles Clippers parted ways with him.

"I love coaching. I absolutely love it," Rivers said on a video conference call with reporters from the practice court inside the team's Camden, New Jersey, practice facility. "But I was not going to just coach anybody, I can tell you that. I was ready to take a break ... it just depended on the team that was available, and if that team in my opinion was ready to win."

Rivers said his agent received interest from three teams within hours of his dismissal by the Clippers.

"When [general manager Elton Brand] called, it was an easy 'Get on the plane and take a look' for me," Rivers said. "You look at these players, these young players, and their potential ... the fact that they've had so much success in so many ways at the ages they are already, and where I think they can go, for me it's a job you just couldn't turn down.

"That's why I'm here. Just really excited about it."

While Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are a talented foundation for the 76ers, there have been doubts on whether they can bring out the best in each other.

"They've won 65% of the games they've played," Rivers said, referring to Simmons and Embiid, "so it clearly works when they play together. ... this team is loaded with talent. We just have to figure out how to make it work the best."