New York Knicks: The emerging importance of Austin Rivers
By Chip Murphy
The New York Knicks picked up a steal with their signing of Austin Rivers. The veteran guard is already a perfect fit for the young rebuilding squad.
The New York Knicks needed a fearless basketball player. Enter Austin Rivers. Since he was a teenager, Rivers has been fighting tremendous expectations and intense scrutiny. His dad is a former NBA player turned Hall of Fame head coach who also happens to be one of the league’s most revered figures.
Despite being just a kid, Rivers chose to embrace the attention that his last name provided him. After becoming the No. 1 prospect in his high school recruiting class, Rivers committed to the hated Duke University. All the spotlight was on Doc Rivers’ son.
Players Power Rankings: Steph Curry is back. light. Related Story
Austin’s lone season at Duke wasn’t perfect — the Blue Devils were bounced in the first round by CJ McCollum’s Lehigh squad — but it’s no coincidence that his best college game happened on the big stage.
Rivers and Duke were on the road for the latest installment in their fierce rivalry against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 and loaded with future NBA players. Carolina was riding a 31 game home winning streak.
Rivers was unfazed by it all as he lit the Tar Heels up for 29 points. Down 10 points with just a little over two minutes left, the freshman led the Blue Devils to an epic comeback win. Rivers capped it off with a legendary buzzer-beater 3-pointer.
Rivers loves being in the big spot. He loves the pressure. So, when he erupted for 14 straight fourth-quarter points in a win against the Utah Jazz, it was pretty on-brand. That’s what Austin Rivers does.
Via The Athletic’s Mike Vorkonuv:
"“I love the stage,” Rivers said. “I know every player says that when they come here they want to play on this stage but I really do. I thrive on it. You have to be OK with missing the shot. You have to be OK with making the wrong play or the right play or the right play when you have the ball in your hands at the end of the game. You can’t worry about the makes or misses or the turnovers. You have to trust yourself and then you gotta live with the outcome. You gotta be able to take praise and then take criticism.”"
The Jazz win was New York’s third over a playoff team from last season, but it also cemented Rivers’ status as the sixth man (for now) and launched him into the hearts of every fan watching. Fans love a clutch player, and Rivers is money.