PHILADELPHIA – 76ers coach Doc Rivers talks to his former Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, but discussing his son Austin Rivers is now off limits.
Rivers, who signed with the Knicks as a free agent in November, was banned from the rotation following the Super Bowl Sunday exchange for Derrick Rose. Rivers did not take it gloriously for missing from the bench at a recent home game.
He hasn’t been with the Knicks since the All-Star hiatus ended for “ personal reasons. ” Thibodeau said Rivers is expecting a baby with his fiancé and has taken paternity leave. The trading deadline is March 25. Rivers said in his last conversation with the media that he felt he could be traded any minute.
“That’s basketball – I’ll stay out of that,” said the Sixers coach before facing the Knicks on Tuesday. “Tom and I talk, but not Austin. I don’t call coaches and suggest who they should play for. I just don’t. Whether it’s your son or not. I stay away from that. ”
In December, Rivers, who played with the Knicks from 1992-94, told The Post that he had recommended his former franchise to his son. When asked about his son’s situation, Rivers objected again, awkwardly.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” Rivers said. “In this case, Austin is a player on their team. It is not a place to comment. It would be like making comments about players from other teams [regarding playing time]It would be bad form. ”
However, Rivers was happy to share his thoughts on Julius Randle’s turnaround – with his son as his source.
“I’m just happy for him,” Rivers said. “I get information by talking to Austin. Austin is just thrilled with what kind of person he is, how he’s a great passer-by and outsmarting everyone in the gym, how all his teammates love him. Julius Randle never had that story before. When an experienced player like Austin, who’s been in the league for eight years, says that about a younger man, it says something about Julius and what kind of a man he is. ”