CHICAGO -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers has a good eye for head-coaching potential, and he’s identified another candidate.

Rivers campaigned for former assistant Tom Thibodeau to get a head-coaching job, and now Thibodeau is considered a Coach of the Year favorite with the Bulls.

One of Thibodeau’s players also has a bright coaching future, according to Rivers, who was visiting ESPN 1000 studios on Tuesday and took a call from Bulls reserve and former Celtics back-up Brian Scalabrine.

“Scal is going to be a hell of a coach,” Rivers said on ESPN 1000's "Afternoon Saloon". “He’s in the same spot I was in at the same point in his career, and all he says is, ‘No I’m going to do TV. I’m going to do radio.’ And I just shake my head, sure Scal.

“Scalabrine, mark my words, will be an NBA coach, and a good one.”

Rivers praised Scalabrine’s work ethic, and he also said the tradition of fans chanting Scalabrine’s name late in games didn’t originate in the United Center.

“We started that, right Scal? So they’re stealing what we did in Boston,” Rivers said. “I think Chicago should get something more original than that.”

“It’s grown to a whole new level here,” Scalabrine countered.