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Los Angeles Clippers: Thank You Austin Rivers

By Kenneth Hawkes

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Los Angeles Clippers Guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts to hitting the go ahead three point shot during an NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 03: Los Angeles Clippers Guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts to hitting the go ahead three point shot during an NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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After being traded for Marcin Gortat, we thank Austin Rivers for his time with the Clippers franchise.

The Clippers traded Austin Rivers for Marcin Gortat from the Washington Wizards yesterday. The trade shocked the NBA world as Austin Rivers exercised his $12.6 million option not even a week before this trade occurred.

Clipper Nation had mixed feelings on the trade. Austin Rivers has been with the LA Clippers organization since the beginning of the 2014 season. His improvement sky rocketed with his breakout 2016-2017 season, when he averaged 12 points and 2.8 assists.

Austin Rivers became a key part of the Clippers’ intensity. His fight and hustle every night proved his worth to the team and showed he had earned his spot on the roster with no uncertainty. Austin Rivers will truly be missed from the LA Clippers roster. He continued to prove the haters wrong with his improvement and fearlessness in big moments.

Some people believe Austin Rivers was solely on the Clippers because of Doc Rivers, his father. This falsification was beloved by many NBA fans because of his struggle to put points up during his first two seasons on the Clippers.

However, Austin Rivers used this hate as energy to improve every season and during the 2017-18, season Rivers averaged 15.1 points and 4.0 assists.  Austin Rivers is like a pillow; he loves it when people sleep on him. You could say Doc Rivers signed Austin Rivers because it was his son. However River’s fearlessness towards obstacles catapulted this fighter into an established NBA scorer and solid defensive player. Austin Rivers tenacious intensity would now easily earn him a spot on any NBA roster.

Memorable Moments

Austin Rivers most memorable moments include his acts of selflessness, fearlessness, intensity and spearheading towards adversity. When Austin accepted the call to challenge, he did not back-down. This is something fans admired about Austin and cherished while he was with the Clippers. He put his body on the line for his team, as illustrated by playing through a bloody eye and stitches against Portland.

The thing Austin Rivers will be most remembered for is his intensity every game and leadership when called up to challenge or adversity. Austin Rivers is in our hearts, loved by Clipper Nation.

Thank you Austin.