2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - June 15


Due to his father being a former collegiate All-American, NBA veteran, and title winning head coach, Duke's Austin Rivers has been in the national spotlight for quite some time. The Blue Devil shooting guard chose to enter the 2012 NBA Draft after just one season in college, carrying a heavy burden as he transitions to the next level.

"At the end of the day, basketball is something I've been playing my whole life," Rivers stated at the NBA Draft Combine. "It's a game. I have fun. I love it... I take it very serious [sic] but I understand that there's always tomorrow. I haven't been perfect in my career. I have a lot of ups and downs. You take the downs, you fix them, you flush them, and you keep moving forward."

That thought was almost certainly engrained in Austin's head by his father, Doc Rivers. That is not the only advice dad offered his son as Austin goes through the NBA Draft process.

"Stay hungry and humble," was another message Austin said he has taken from his dad. "Understand that this is a blessing to be here, just not to take anything for granted. Really go out there and work hard, show teams who you are truly. Don't try to be somebody you're not. Try to act real in interviews and if they choose you, that's the right fit for you."



Besides his father, Austin soaked in every piece of information he could from Duke head coach, Mike Krzyzewski. "It benefitted me a lot," Rivers said of his experience of playing for Coach K. "I can't tell you how much I learned over this past year. You just see things differently, how to read the defense, how to play defense, how to compete even more. I had to read pick and rolls, just little things like that. How to be a leader, how to talk to your teammates, how to bond, how to bounce back after a tough loss."

Rivers had a successful lone season at Duke, leading the team with 15.5 points per game and hitting an unforgettable game-winning shot in an impressive come from behind victory at North Carolina. He measured 6'5" in shoes at the Combine and weighed in at 203 pounds. Rivers is still a bit skinny by ideal NBA standards, and how he handles a more physical style of play in the NBA is a concern as he heads to the next level.

"It's going to be tougher. Guys are stronger, bigger, faster. At the same time, this is something I've been waiting for my whole life. I wouldn't have come out if I didn't feel like I was ready. This is my dream and I'm going to do everything I can to achieve my goals and work hard."



Possessing a natural feel for scoring the basketball in a variety of ways, Rivers is one of the top shooting guards in the 2012 class. He has incredible handles and thrives at creating for himself off the bounce. Getting better playing off the ball will be essential for him to reach his potential as a pro. He figures to go as high as No. 8 to the Toronto Raptors and definitely wouldn't fall past the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 18.

"I feel very confident and really ready," Rivers said. "My scoring ability, my play-making ability, to get other people involved; I just feel like I'm ready to go out there and compete."

With all that tutelage and confidence (or maybe cockiness is the more appropriate term), Rivers appears to be mentally prepared for the pressures that will come with playing at the next level due to the name on the back of his jersey. If he can physically mature and get stronger, he should have a lengthy and successful career in the NBA just like his dad.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   MaliceAtThePalace 03-09-2012 01:38 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.201 (total posts: 1) 50     24 Stephen Jackson is a phenomenal teammate. Just ask Ron Artest back in '04. Sean Shearier 03-09-2012 12:27 am xxx.xxx.xxx.117 (total posts: 1) 22     133 great site lots of information. Please check out www.walloffamesports.com Mike again 12-25-2011 02:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.237 (total posts: 2) 23     24 Lakers got Mavs first rounder this year for odom mike 12-25-2011 01:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.237 (total posts: 2) 30     42 you still have the clippers owning the twolves pick Joe 12-23-2011 11:05 am xxx.xxx.xxx.204 (total posts: 1) 54     26 Walt, I dont think you understand what the Amnesty Clause does. The contract doesnt count against the payroll, but you still have to pay the player. You dont just get out of the contract for free. There was no point in using it on Rashard Lewis, because he can still at least play. Even if you are paying him a ton of money, he can still give you decent minutes. Plus, next year, he is a huge expiring that can be used as a trade chip. Pete 12-23-2011 01:45 am xxx.xxx.xxx.167 (total posts: 1) 24     33 Dude Wizards don't amnesty Lewis because if they did, they would be significantly below the salary cap floor imposed on teams, forcing them to spend a bunch of money on an extremely weak free agent class. Makes sense that they wouldn't amnesty him because of that. Walter 12-23-2011 12:11 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 142     24 Ugh, what page is that on? Editing at 3 am apparently isn't a good idea. Oh, and I'm always up this late during football season. My Russian gypsy neighbors are surprisingly quiet. Peter 12-22-2011 04:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.62 (total posts: 1) 23     24 Walter - Aren't you an English major? Or should I say, Engrish major? "However, if Davis plays with a chip on his shoulder, he provides the Knicks with a much-needed veteran experience in the backcourt, and unlike Mike Bibby, can still productive in the downside of his career." All kidding aside, you're doing a great job with this website. BTW, what are you doing up at 2:55 AM? Are the Russians keeping you up? Or are you trying to spy on the hot neighbor next door? Walter 12-22-2011 02:55 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10) 20     19 Sorry about that. It was my fault (editing error). I posted the wrong logo. It's fixed. Fitz 12-20-2011 08:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.242 (total posts: 2) 21     20 Dude can you please correct that Davis for Bass trade. Bass plays for Orlando, not Dallas. It is the most annoying thing seeing that big of a mistake on an otherwise good website Fitz 12-19-2011 02:58 am xxx.xxx.xxx.242 (total posts: 2) 20     36 Bass plays for Orlando. Therefore Glen Davis is going to Orlando. Can you please correct this already Bro 12-16-2011 10:44 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.89 (total posts: 1) 28     20 The Pistons bought out Rip Hamilton's contract so they could still use their amnesty on Ben Gordon. I was hoping that the Pistons wouldnt resign Tayshaun Prince so we could land the first pick of the draft and get a stud to join our young core of Greg Monroe, Austin Daye and Brandon Knight. But, the Pistons are stupid so they will rely on bums like Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon to win us out of a good draft pick and stay mediocre. Also... 12-16-2011 11:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 26     20 The Pistons bought out Rip's contract, and didn't use their amnesty clause yet. God willing, Ben Gordon is next to go. What an idiot 12-16-2011 11:08 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 23     21 Way to keep on your trades, Paul and Dave! Brandon Bass has been with the Magic for awhile now, kinda shocking Walt would let someone so in-ept write for his site. rossfelhofer 12-16-2011 01:16 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.43 (total posts: 1) 18     21 the clippers are not done in free agency yet, they are going to have to sign another big man Pages: 1 2 3 45 6 7

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades





2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22


2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20


NFL Picks - Feb. 3