Previously, the Knicks only had two paternal costumes to play for the organization. On the last night of 2020, they are supposed to add a third.
After missing the entire preseason and first four regular season games with a groin injury, combo defenseman Austin Rivers is expected to make his Knicks debut against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in TAF. Rivers’ father, Rivers, the current head coach of the Philadelphia Sixers, played for the Knicks from 1992 to 1994.
Rivers, 28, said he sustained a groin injury days before he took over through a signing and trading agreement with Houston on Nov. 22 and a three-year deal worth $ 1
0 million agreed. Dollars and Knicks However, only the first year of the contract is guaranteed.
“It’s an adaptation. I never miss a full training camp. I didn’t play a game, I didn’t play a preseason game, I didn’t play a 5v5 game, so just watch, “River said before Thursday’s game.” At the end of the day it was basketball. You just go out there and play hard and it’s not rocket science. You’re just trying to help the team win. “
The nine-year-old NBA veteran added he wasn’t sure if he would have a minute limit on his Knicks debut or a spot to revolve around after starting Elfrid Payton and defender RJ Barrett
Frank Ntilikina (right knee slipped) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left quad) were excluded from Thursday’s game. Alec Burks (sprained left ankle) and rookie Immanuel Quickley (hip pointer) pointed out that Quickley was suspiciously absent. The last three games with the hip pointer had to suffer from the Knicks’ season opening defeat against Indiana.
First year coach Tom Thibodeau made the Knicks “play hard,” Rivers said with wins in their last two games against Milwaukee and Cleveland. Thibodeau joined Doc Rivers in Boston that year. 2007-10
“I’m honest, even as an individual I don’t play with them. The only thing that I know I have to do – gun, I could do anything, I could miss anything. I get that feeling and rhythm back when I play these games – but one thing to be consistent is that I have to play hard when I’m there, “said Austin Rivers,” because that’s what it is Team does. Our symbol is now. We are one of those teams. When you play the Knicks, there is no such thing as a night game. That is an idea that we want to create here.
“I know that doing something and thinking about it can be shaken. But your efforts can’t be that Thibbs taught this team. I’ll just come in and play hard. “
The 6-foot-4 River averaged 8.8 points and 1.7 assists, while in 23.4 minutes in 68 games (four shots) against Houston, he scored 42.1 percent of his shots (35.6 percent from the Three-point area) shot. Last season
There are only two father-son pieces that appear in regular season games with the Knicks: Ernie and Kiki Van de Gehe and Henry and Mike Bibbie.
Doc Rivers, who coached Austin for four seasons with the Clippers, said earlier this month he had pushed his son to sign with Knicks because of the “great experience” he had with the organization.
“I think it’s the whole vibe of everything Thibbs has to offer,” said Austin Rivers. “I think it’s the difference because he wants it.” No other choice You don’t play hard, you don’t play That’s exactly what he did. I think everyone on our team will get this picture. And I think everyone knows – if you don’t play hard you won’t.
“There are only a few teams that are so unique, and that’s what we’re trying to build up here. Thibbs does a great job and so do we. Everyone moves the ball and plays hard and it will be.
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