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Austin Rivers’ impressive journey to the NBA and LA Clippers

By Andrew Miller

Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) talks to his father and head coach Doc Rivers during a time out in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Clippers win 122-117. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) talks to his father and head coach Doc Rivers during a time out in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Clippers win 122-117. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Austin Rivers receives a lot of hate and comments about “only playing because of his dad,” but his journey to the NBA and where he is now with the LA Clippers is impressive.

Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) talks to his father and head coach Doc Rivers during a time out in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Clippers win 122-117. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; LA Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) talks to his father and head coach Doc Rivers during a time out in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Clippers win 122-117. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

Austin Rivers isn’t the perfect basketball player, but he certainly isn’t alone in that. Nobody on the planet can be classed as the “perfect” basketball player, everyone has their flaws (even MJ and LeBron), its part of being a human.

But the notion that Rivers is only in the league because he happens to be related to Head Coach Doc Rivers, is ridiculous.

Sure, it helps if you have a coach who has a real confidence in your ability and wants to see you succeed in the sport on both a personal and professional level, but in reality, every coach feels this way about all of their players (with a few exceptions).

If anything, having a famous last name (especially of a former All-Star and championship-winning coach) just puts even more pressure on the individual to perform and live up to the expectations and constant comparisons.

Maybe Austin won’t ever make the All-Star team like his father, who as a player averaged 10.9 points, 5.7 assists and three rebounds across his 14-year NBA career, but his impressive journey to get to where he is now has nothing to do with his last name.

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