Tag: Austin Rivers

Austin Rivers, Pat Beverley respond to JJ Redick’s critique of Doc Rivers on accountability

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely.

Former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has a bad habit of throwing his former players under the bus at times to deflect criticism of his coaching. While at times it may be justified, it also often has landed poorly among those who have played for him in the past. Such was the case with ex-NBAer and current broadcaster JJ Redick, who took Doc to task on social media.

That, in turn, rankled Rivers’ son, Austin Rivers, who replied to Redick’s critique by saying via Clutch Points “In terms of accountability, your best years in the NBA were when you played for him and the (Los Angeles) Clippers … It’s just very ironic and kinda weird that you have this energy towards him.”

Redick’s words also irked current Milwaukee Bucks (who Rivers coaches) guard Patrick Beverley, who wrote “This Man Doc actually saved your career. Started you when no one else wanted (to). And (you) retire, go on TV and say that.”

Redick could not help but reply, saying, “Pat my guy, I had a four-year offer with player option for the same money to be a starter for a different team. (expletive) ‘saved my career,'”

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely. But then again, that may be true of many of us — most of whom are not being paid like an NBA head coach.

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Andy Katz names Jared McCain his Player of the Week following 35-point outburst against Florida State

Duke freshman Jared McCain was named Andy Katz’ Player of the Week after a 35-point game against FSU and a double-double against Wake Forest.

By now, Jared McCain’s scintillating shooting performance in Tallahassee has introduced him to everyone in college basketball.

The true freshman from Sacramento, California, opened up more eyes this weekend after his 35 points helped carry Duke to a win on the road against an always-tough Florida State team coached by Leonard Hamilton.

Duke needed every single point McCain provided. For his efforts, McCain was named ACC Rookie of the Week, and college basketball reporter Andy Katz called McCain his national Player of the Week.

McCain’s week ended with the win and 35-point explosion over FSU, but earlier that week against Wake Forest, McCain also dropped a 17-point double-double while shooting 3/7 from distance.

He averaged a whopping 26 points per game for the week, and his total field goal percentage for the week’s games was 53%, He shot 61% from the 3-point line.

For good measure, McCain averaged seven rebounds a game, too.

 

We’ve discussed how McCain tied a Duke freshmen record held by a legendary one-and-done player, Zion Williamson. Still, McCain is now flirting with a place within the top 10 all-time 3-point shooting seasons by a Duke freshman. He’s tied currently with Austin Rivers at No. 10 with 58 made threes. One more 3-pointer with eight games left would see him officially pass Rivers and firmly move inside the top 10.

With four more makes from deep, he’d pass his head coach, Jon Scheyer, who had 61 in his freshman season at Duke.

With McCain, Duke has found a dynamic long-range threat that could affect how teams gameplan for Duke the rest of the way—playing off that could benefit Duke greatly as they continue to push toward the NCAA Tournament.

Austin Rivers gave a thoughtful answer on why LeBron James and Bronny should not be teammates

It is worth considering his perspective when we talk about Bronny and LeBron.

It is no secret that LeBron James hopes to eventually play alongside his son, Bronny James, in the NBA.

Bronny is currently a freshman at USC and could potentially declare for the 2024 NBA Draft at the end of this season. LeBron, meanwhile, has a player option in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent and join whatever NBA team drafted the Trojans guard if the Lakers did not.

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But it is worth mentioning that ESPN analyst Austin Rivers, the son of Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, does not think this is a good idea for any party involved. Austin played for Doc on the Clippers from 2015 until 2018.

During a recent segment, the former NBA guard spoke about his evaluation of Bronny both on and off the court and drew from his own experience as a professional basketball player with a famous father.

Austin first spoke about how well Bronny has handled his fame so far:

“I hope it doesn’t happen … I don’t want to see Bronny play with his dad. I really don’t … I went through something similar. It was a very similar situation but also different. I was already in the NBA when I went to go play for him. What happens is a lot of people start to discredit everything that you’ve done. This kid has been in the limelight since he was born. His first day on Instagram, he had a million followers. He’s handled it so well.”

He then spoke about some of the on-court accomplishments the McDonald’s All-American honoree has already experienced with basketball.

When we scouted Bronny, we immediately noticed that his defense was his most compelling trait. Austin also noted that Bronny has a good feel for the game:

“He’s played well at Sierra Canyon amongst talent and was able to get himself to a school like USC. Right now, his numbers don’t scream pro. So if he is to go in the draft or if he gets picked, it’d be great to get picked up by a contending team that could help him put him in a situation [to develop] because he does have talent and he does have basketball IQ and he does have potential.”

Bronny was able to return to play after suffering a terrifying cardiac arrest before the season began.

But even before the health scare, talent evaluators had concerns that Bronny may not be ready for the NBA for several years. While he had shown “NBA potential” during his time in high school, he was never considered one of the best players in his class.

Recruiting services, however, had Austin as a top player in his class. That wasn’t how Bronny was evaluated:

“At this point in his career, just because Bronny’s success isn’t at a top-tier level, him getting drafted and playing with his dad, I don’t want that negativity to come his way because he doesn’t deserve it. He’s not a top-10 pick. He’s not a lottery pick. He’s none of those things. I was all of those things. And then still, when I went to go play for the Clippers, people were like: You’re only in the league because your dad after me being the No. 1 player in the United States two years prior.”

Perhaps most important, though, is the fame levels of their respective fathers.

Austin said that he was put under a microscope playing for Doc Rivers, who is a one-time NBA champion and one-time Coach of the Year recipient. Yet he still received a lot of criticism (like from Glen Davis) even though the two weren’t very close outside of basketball.

That would only magnify tenfold as the son of LeBron, a four-time NBA Finals MVP and 20-time NBA All-Star:

“On a different level, Doc is great. LeBron James is the most popular basketball to ever play other than who, maybe Michael Jordan? It would just be a lot, man. I hope for the kid that he is able to not only play in the NBA but play somewhere where he can kind of niche out his own identity. His name is already Bronny. Everything we talk about with him always folds back to his dad and rightfully so. He plays for USC and his dad plays down the street for the Lakers. It’s an insane situation and the way he has handled it, I’m a fan of Bronny. I really. And I hope he goes somewhere else. I really do.”

Austin, who also gave thoughtful criticism of the Rockets before they eventually parted ways with Kevin Porter Jr., has given this a lot of thought and came away with a strong opinion.

It is worth considering his perspective when we talk about Bronny and LeBron.

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Ex-Celtics coach Doc Rivers on the time he had Dennis Rodman babysit Austin Rivers

Who’d have thought we could add babysitting to rebounding and international diplomacy as things the Hall of Fame big man has as skills?

The thought of former NBA star Dennis Rodman babysitting their kids might spark terror in the minds of some parents, but to former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Speaking on a broadcast of a recent Sacramento Kings – Los Angeles Lakers tilt, Rivers recalled how The Worm offered his services when Doc found himself in need for the night.

“It was a one-time thing, but when I was in San Antonio (with the Spurs), I wanted to go out, and we used Dennis Rodman for one night babysitting Austin and some of our kids,” he explained via Boston Dot Com’s Luke Scotchie. “I don’t know if I’m parent of the year or the worst parent.”

“(Rodman) was over at the house and he said ‘Hey, I can do that. I love babysitting,'” said Rivers.

“And he did it, he did a great job. The house was a mess,” related Rivers. Who’d have thought we could add babysitting to rebounding and international diplomacy as things the Hall of Fame big man has as skills?

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Adam Silver’s longest NBA on-court suspensions, including Draymond Green

Adam Silver has only issued a handful of multi-game suspensions for on-court incidents.

Since taking over for David Stern, commissioner Adam Silver has not issued suspensions as often or for as long. But some still stand out.

Even though Silver does not have much reputation as a disciplinarian as the NBA’s commissioner, there are a few moments that have required him to be a bit more strict than usual.

While there are unfortunately several off-court incidents that have needed attention from Silver, it is rare that something that has happened during an actual game has led to a player receiving forced time away from the team.

But the recent suspension of Golden State’s Draymond Green for his violent chokehold of Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert led us to wonder how this compares to other on-court suspensions Silver has issued.

According to research from For The Win, per Spotrac, the NBA has now issued 15 multi-game suspensions for on-court incidents since Silver took over as league commissioner in 2014.

Based on what we found, here is what caused each of the suspensions:

Doc Rivers told a wild story about hiring Dennis Rodman to babysit his children (including Austin)

Doc Rivers said the house was a MESS.

Doc Rivers has transitioned from the coaching sidelines to the broadcasting booth, which means fans are about to hear some interesting stories.

Rivers, who is now working for ESPN and was on the call during the Lakers game against the Kings on Wednesday night, told a fascinating story about a time when he was teammates with Dennis Rodman.

Apparently, when Rivers and Rodman were teammates on the Spurs, the future coach asked the five-time NBA champion for an unusual favor.

Here is what Rivers said:

“It was a one-time thing when I was in San Antonio. I wanted to go out and we used Dennis Rodman for one night babysitting Austin,” said Rivers. “I don’t know if I’m the parent of the year or the worst parent.”

Rodman, who is known for his colorful personality and eccentric antics both on and off the court, probably isn’t at the top of your list for who you would expect to ask to help out with a babysitting gig.

According to Rivers, though, the former Bulls star said that he loved babysitting. Rivers added that Rodman “did a great job” but that the house was a mess.

Rivers and Rodman were teammates during the 1994-95 season. That means that Austin (who played in the NBA from 2012 until 2023) was two or three years old. Doc’s daughter Callie, now married to NBA guard Seth Curry, was likely around five or six at the time.

We would love to hear what Austin and Callie remember, if anything, about this experience!

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On the time 16-year-old Austin Rivers challenged Kevin Garnett to a 1-on-1 game

During a visit to his father, Doc Rivers, who was coaching the Boston Celtics at that time, Austin took the opportunity to test his skills against NBA players.

In his high school playing days, Austin Rivers was arguably one of the most confident basketball players in the game at that level, with a stellar skill set that made him one of the top recruits in the country.

During a visit to his father, Doc Rivers, who was coaching the Boston Celtics at that time, Austin took the opportunity to test his skills against NBA players at the Celtics practice facility. He played against Hall of Fame small forward Paul Pierce and current-day ESPN broadcaster Kendrick Perkins, beating them both, which boosted his confidence. He then challenged Kevin Garnett, an NBA legend, to a 1 on 1 game. Garnett, taken aback at first, accepted the challenge.

Despite Austin’s confidence and fiery spirit, Garnett won the game 5-1

To hear the tale of that two man Celtics tilt, take a look at the clip embedded above from the folks at the “Bench Mob” YouTube channel.

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Is Boston Celtics HoFer Paul Pierce underrated by the younger generation?

Pierce’s style of play, while not flashy, deserves recognition, especially among the younger generation of fans who may not fully appreciate his legacy.

Is Hall of Fame Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce underrated by the younger generation? This question was discussed on a recent episode of the Ringer’s “Bill Simmons” podcast, where the eponymous host and NBA vet Austin Rivers explored the legacy of The Truth in today’s NBA landscape.

They emphasized that Pierce’s style of play, while not flashy, deserves recognition, especially among the younger generation of fans who may not fully appreciate his legacy. The duo also touched on the challenges of how the internet and social media have changed the way people perceive NBA players, often favoring highlights and 2K ratings over a deeper understanding of the game’s history and players’ impact beyond statistics.

To hear Simmons and Austin debate how properly recognized Pierce is by the fans of the league today, check out the clip embedded below.

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Would it make sense for the Boston Celtics to sign Austin Rivers?

Rivers’ willingness to play a flexible role and his playoff experience make him a potential candidate for the Celtics’ last roster spot.

The Boston Celtics are considering filling their final open roster spot with veteran help, and Austin Rivers is looking for a team to play for next season. Would a signing of the son of the coach who helped Boston win its 2008 title make sense?

Rivers recently spoke to team president Brad Stevens and the Celtics about the possibility of joining the team, which he revealed on an episode of the Bill Simmons podcast. While nothing is confirmed, Rivers remains open to the opportunity. The veteran point guard has had a solid NBA career, known for his shooting ability and defensive skills. Although he may not make a massive impact, he could provide valuable depth to the Celtics’ roster if the team makes moves that open up backcourt time.

Rivers’ willingness to play a flexible role and his playoff experience make him a potential candidate for the Celtics’ last roster spot.

CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning talked us through the potential signing of Rivers on a recent episode of the “Garden Report” podcast; check it out in the clip embedded above.

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This veteran guard says he’s talked to Brad Stevens about open Celtics roster spot

Boston has an open roster spot, and it seems Austin Rivers wants it.

Although the start of the 2023-24 Boston Celtics season is right around the corner, there are still a few questions about the team’s final depth chart. Boston may still make a move or two before the year begins. At the time of this writing, Boston has an open roster spot and just 11 fully guaranteed contracts on the books with the season set to tip in late October.

Veteran Austin Rivers appears to have eyes for a gig in Boston, and even reached out to team president Brad Stevens about a possible role in Celtics green. In a recent appearance on the Bill Simmons Podcast, the guard spoke highly of Stevens and the Celts. Rivers told Simmons he spoke on the phone with Stevens about possibly joining the team.

“I had a great talk with Brad (Stevens) actually like a week ago,” Rivers said.