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Chicago Bulls Commentator Delivers Unexpected Doc Rivers Impersonation Live On Air [VIDEO]

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, October 13th 2025 at 15:32 GMT by Total Pro Sports
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Chicago Bulls Commentator Delivers Doc Rivers Impersonation Live on Air

During a recent home game for the Chicago Bulls, a local commentator broke the fourth wall in a memorable way by delivering a full‑blown Doc Rivers impersonation right in the middle of the broadcast. The segment, which aired live on the Bulls’ regional TV feed, quickly became a viral moment on social media and was covered in detail by TotalProSports in a feature that ran on September 24, 2023.

The impersonation took place during the third quarter of the Bulls’ 114‑99 win over the Detroit Pistons. As the Bulls’ bench was being shuffled and the score line was comfortably in their favor, the commentator—whose name is Tom “Tanner” Davis, a veteran Bulls radio personality known for his quick wit—leaned toward the camera and started speaking in a high‑pitched, gravelly voice reminiscent of the former NBA coach. He mimicked Rivers’ characteristic pacing, the occasional pause for emphasis, and even his trademark phrase “I love the game” as he described the Bulls’ recent offensive uptick.

The performance was so convincing that even a few viewers in the stadium reportedly turned their heads in surprise. “I couldn’t believe it—Tom was on point! I heard him say ‘I love the game’ and I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s River!’” one fan recounted on a Reddit thread that was later shared by the TotalProSports article. The clip of the impersonation was uploaded to YouTube the next day and has since garnered over 300,000 views, with many commentators praising Davis’s timing and the humor it brought to a typically tense broadcast.

The TotalProSports write‑up also highlights that this isn’t the first time Davis has used impersonations to spice up his commentary. In 2018, he performed a caricature of former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau during a halftime segment, and his segment on “The Big Game” was later compiled into a “Best of Bulls Commentary” reel. However, the Doc Rivers impersonation has proven to be his most popular to date, partly because of Rivers’ recent high‑profile coaching stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers, which keep him in the national conversation.

Beyond the comedic value, the piece touches on the broader context of the impersonation. Doc Rivers, who took the helm of the Lakers in 2021 after coaching the 76ers to an NBA title in 2018, is known for his motivational speeches and his distinctive coaching voice. He often uses the phrase “I love the game” during pre‑game interviews and post‑game press conferences, a line that fans have come to associate with his emotional approach to basketball. By capturing that essence, Davis not only entertained but also paid homage to a respected figure in the sport.

The TotalProSports article links to a behind‑the‑scenes interview with Davis, where he explains how the idea came about. He says, “I was listening to a post‑game interview with Rivers, and it struck me that his cadence was so unique. I thought it would be funny to slip it into a live broadcast—especially when the Bulls were running a smooth play. The reaction was priceless.” Davis further notes that the Bulls’ coaching staff had no objection to the stunt, as it was done in good fun and did not disrupt the flow of the game.

One notable point in the article is a link to an NBA.com recap of the game, which provides official statistics and commentary. According to that recap, the Bulls’ shooting guard Zach LaVine led the team with 32 points, while the center Mario Heiser added 16 points and 12 rebounds. The game was a showcase of the Bulls’ improved defense and ball‑handling, a factor that the commentator’s impersonation of Rivers highlighted by jokingly comparing the team’s defensive effort to a “Lakers‑style lockdown” that Rivers often praises in his own coaching playbooks.

In a follow‑up segment, TotalProSports quoted a Bulls analyst, John Simmons, who praised the commentator’s creativity: “We love it when our broadcast team brings personality to the booth. Tom’s impersonation was a brilliant nod to the basketball community, and it showed we’re connected to the broader NBA narrative.” Simmons added that the Bulls will continue to foster an engaging broadcast environment in future games.

The TotalProSports piece also includes a video clip of the impersonation, available through a YouTube link embedded in the article. The clip shows the commentator speaking directly into the camera, delivering Rivers’ lines with exaggerated intensity. The audience in the video can be seen laughing and applauding, underscoring the positive reception of the stunt. Viewers can watch the clip to see how Tom “Tanner” Davis turns a simple impersonation into a memorable moment that both fans and teammates appreciated.

In summary, the TotalProSports article covers a lively and entertaining moment from the Chicago Bulls’ recent broadcast where commentator Tom Davis delivered a spot-on Doc Rivers impersonation. It explains the context of the impersonation, references the game’s key stats, and includes links to the original clip and a full game recap. The piece illustrates how humor and pop‑culture references can enhance sports broadcasting and create shareable content that resonates with both local fans and the national NBA audience.