The Knicks have previously only had two father-son combinations play for the organization. They will add a third on the last night of 2020.
After missing the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season with a groin injury, combo guard Austin Rivers is expected to make his Knicks debut on Thursday-evening against the Toronto Raptors in Tampa. Rivers’ father Doc, the current head coach of the Philadelphia Sixers, played for the Knicks from 1992-94.
Rivers, 28, says he injured his groin a few days before being taken over in a sign-and-trade with Houston on Nov. 22, agreeing to a $ 10 million three-year deal with the Knicks. However, only the first year of the deal is guaranteed.
‘It has been an adjustment. I have never missed a full training camp. I haven’t played a game, a pre-season game, I haven’t even gone 5-on-5 yet. I’ll just go in, ”Rivers said before Thursday’s game. “Ultimately, it’s basketball. You just go out 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 that he wasn’t sure if he would get a minute restriction in his Knicks debut, or where he would fit in a waiting rotation behind starters Elfrid Payton and RJ Barrett.
Frank Ntilikina (sprained right knee) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left quad) are banned from Thursday’s game, with Alec Burks (left ankle sprained) and rookie Immanuel Quickley (hip pointer) doubtful. Quickley had missed the previous three games with a hip pointer he suffered in the Knicks’ season opening loss at Indiana.
Freshman coach Tom Thibodeau lets the Knicks “play hard,” Rivers noted, with victories in their previous two games against Milwaukee and Cleveland. Thibodeau served on the Doc Rivers staff at Boston from 2007 to 2010.
“I’ll be honest, even as an individual, I come in without having played with them, the only thing I know I have to do – shots, I could do anything, I could miss anything. I’ll get that feel and rhythm back when I play these games – but the only thing that has to be consistent is playing hard when I’m out there, ”said Austin Rivers. “Because that’s what our team is symbolizing at the moment. We are one of these teams, there is no off-night when you play the Knicks. That is the way of thinking we are trying to establish here.
‘I know anything you make and miss can falter, but your effort can’t. That’s what Thibs taught this team. I’m just gonna come in and play hard. “
The 6-foot-4 Rivers averaged 8.8 points and 1.7 assists, hitting 42.1 percent of his shots (35.6 percent from the three-point range) last season for 23.4 minutes in 68 games (four starts) with Houston.
There have only been two other father-son tandems to play with the Knicks in regular season games: Ernie and Kiki Vandeweghe, and Henry and Mike Bibby.
Doc Rivers, who coached Austin with the Clippers for four seasons, said earlier this month that he induced his son to sign with the Knicks because of the “great experience” he had with the organization.
“I think it’s the whole atmosphere of everything Thibs has come up with,” said Austin Rivers. “I think it’s been a difference because that’s what he’s asking. There is no other option. You don’t play hard, you don’t play. That’s exactly what it is with him. I think everyone gets that picture of our team. And I think everyone knows – if you don’t play hard, you’re not going to play.
“Only a few teams have that identity and that’s what we’re trying to build here. Thibs is doing great and we are just following that. Everyone moves the ball and plays hard and that’s what it will be. “