Austin Rivers is finally ready for Knicks’ debut against Raptors



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The Knicks had previously only played two father-son combinations for the organization. On the last night of 2020, they are expected to add a third.

After missing the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season with a groin injury, combo guard Austin Rivers is set to make his Knicks debut Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors in Tampa. Doc, the father of Rivers, the current head coach of the Philadelphia Sixers, played for the Knicks from 1992 to 1994.

Rivers, 28, said he suffered a groin injury days before he was acquired in a signing and trade with Houston on Nov. 22, agreeing to a three-year deal to ‘worth $ 10 million with the Knicks. However, only the first year of the deal is guaranteed.

“It was an adjustment. I have never missed a full training camp. I haven’t been able to play a game, a preseason game, I haven’t even gone 5v5 yet. I’m just going to go, ”Rivers said before Thursday’s game. “It’s basketball at the end of the day. You just go out there and play hard and it’s not rocket science. You are just trying to help the team win. “

The nine-year NBA veteran added he was unsure if he would be subject to a minute restriction on his Knicks debut, or if he would fit into a guard rotation behind the starters. Elfrid Payton and RJ Barrett.

Austin Rivers Knicks
Austin Rivers is set to make his Knicks debut tonight.
Niko Rodriguez / NYKnicks.com

Frank Ntilikina (sprained right knee) and Dennis Smith Jr. (quadruple left) were excluded from Thursday’s game, with Alec Burks (sprained left ankle) and rookie Immanuel Quickley (hip pointer) seen as questionable. Quickley had missed the previous three games with a hip pointer suffered in the Knicks’ season opener loss to Indiana.

Freshman coach Tom Thibodeau has the Knicks “playing hard,” Rivers noted, with wins in their previous two games against Milwaukee and Cleveland. Thibodeau was on the staff of Doc Rivers in Boston from 2007 to 2010.

“I’m going to be honest even as an individual I just didn’t play with them, the only thing I know I have to do – hits, I could do anything, I could miss it all. I’m going to get that feeling and rhythm back to playing these games – but the only thing that has to be consistent is that when I’m there I have to play hard, ”said Austin Rivers. “Because that’s what our team currently symbolizes. We’re one of those teams, there’s no night you play the Knicks. That’s the mindset we’re trying to establish here.

“I know successes and failures can falter, but your efforts cannot. That’s kind of what Thibs instilled in this team. I’ll just go in and play hard.

The 6-foot-4 Rivers average 8.8 points and 1.7 assists while hitting 42.1% of his shots (35.6% of three-point range) in 23.4 minutes in 68 games (four starts) with Houston last season.

There have only been two other father-son tandems to appear in regular season games with the Knicks: Ernie and Kiki Vandeweghe, and Henry and Mike Bibby.

Doc Rivers, who coached Austin for four seasons with the Clippers, said earlier this month he pushed his son to sign with the Knicks because of the “great experience” he had with the organization.

“I think that’s the whole vibe of everything Thibs came up with,” Austin Rivers said. “I think it was a difference because that’s what he’s asking for. There is no other option. You don’t play hard, you don’t play. This is exactly what it is with him. I think everyone has that image on our team. And I think everyone knows that – if you don’t play hard you’re not going to play.

“There are just a few teams that have that identity and that’s what we’re trying to build here. Thibs does a great job and we’re just tracking that. Everyone is moving the ball and playing hard and that’s what it’s going to be.

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