Doc Rivers is rejecting criticisms made of him by ESPN NBA analyst and diehard Boston Celtics fan Bill Simmons alleging that he “quit” on the team rather than take part in the rebuilding effort the organization is now undertaking.

“I would like to call him an idiot, but I’m too classy for that,” Rivers told ESPN during its Thursday night NBA Draft coverage. “That’s just his opinion. That didn’t happen. He really needs to know the whole truth, which he doesn’t.”

After nine seasons of manning the sidelines in Boston, Rivers left the Celtics this week to assume the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Clippers. That move has left Simmons as agitated as he seems shocked.

“The truth keeps changing,” he told ESPN. “He’s given different quotes about this; he didn’t know; he did know. He kind of knew. He wanted the trade to happen; he was coming back; he needed a year off. When he sticks to a story, I’ll believe the truth.

“Just own it,” Simmons continued. “Just admit what you did. The writing was on the wall. The Celtics wanted to rebuild. You didn’t want to be a part of it. You wanted to go to the Clippers and it happened. Just own what you did.”