One of the most polarizing picks in the draft, Austin Rivers is a player with a high ceiling that will take some time to fully develop his talents.
He was regarded as a top-two prep prospect going into college, but enters the NBA with tempered expectations after an up-and-down freshman season. Even with his dad being Celtics coach Doc Rivers, there are certainly holes to pick in his game.
Yet at 6’4’’ and 200 pounds and after averaging 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his lone season of college, it’s hard to argue that he is full of potential.
What Rivers Brings to the Team
Rivers is going to be a project in his rookie season, but he has incredible potential to become a strong player in the next two to three years as he becomes more comfortable with the ball in his hands.
While he may be a tad undersized for a shooting guard, he makes up for it with elite strength and incredible leaping ability. His quickness gives him the ability to blow by defenders, and his muscle allows him to finish strong.
He has natural scoring instincts and dribble-drive abilities that will certainly translate at the next level.
His decision-making is questionable, and it remains to be seen if he is capable of handling the point guard duties full-time.
He showed lapses in focus on the defensive end at times—that area of his game has to improve in a hurry. With his frame and athleticism, that is certainly something that can be fixed.
What Experts are Saying
Matt Kamalsky of DraftExpress.com believes Rivers still has some maturity issues to overcome, but believes Rivers is capable of becoming one of the next great guards in the NBA:
One of the top freshman scorers in the country, Rivers had an up-and-down season relative to expectations that ended prematurely just as he appeared to be getting things rolling. His swagger, skill level, and scoring ability were unmistakable, even early on, but scouts also got an eyeful of his average decision-making, poor body language in the face of adversity and bouts with inefficiency from the perimeter.
It's pretty clear that with the proper coaching, Rivers can be a star down the line, but he is far from a finished product entering the NBA.
Rookie Impact
At the ripe of age 20 when he first enters an NBA court, it’s going to take time for Rivers to adjust to the speed and physicality of the pro game.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see him average more turnovers per 48 minutes than any other rookie in the NBA. Yet as he continues to fine-tune his game and gain more confidence in his scoring abilities, Rivers will end up being a strong contributor by the end of the season.
Will he win Rookie of the Year? Doubtful.
Pick Analysis
New Orleans picking up Anthony Davis was already a franchise-changing move. However, the impact of an elite shooting guard like Austin Rivers could vastly turn the tide for the Hornets.
Rivers has the agility and speed that will not only pose a threat when he penetrates into the key, but also to pull up for the shot with his coveted jab-step move. At 6’5, 203-pounds, Rivers' biggest asset is that he can create his own shot, which he showed off time and again at Duke.
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