Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
NEW YORK — Celtics coach Doc Rivers said his son, Austin, hopes to team with Kyrie Irving next year at Duke.
Austin Rivers is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Winter Park (Fla.) who signed with Duke last month. If he and Irving were to play together, they could form one of the most explosive backcourts in the nation.
“Oh yeah, he’s hoping to play with Kyrie,” Doc said Wednesday before the Celtics-Knicks game at MSG. “That still may or may not happen, whether he’s injured or not. But I’m just hoping Kyrie is back and healthy. He’s a terrific player.”
Irving, a freshman out of West Orange, N.J. and Elizabeth St. Patrick, has been out with a toe injury since the Dec. 4 victory over Butler at the Izod Center. It remains uncertain when he’ll return.
Irving is projected as a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and it is unclear whether he would come out after an abbreviated freshman season or not. Doc said he didn’t think a potential NBA lockout would influence college players. The NBA Draft will take place before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire June 30.
“I don’t know,” Doc said. “I don’t think the lockout will honestly matter whether guys come in or stay out. I think they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do.”
What is clear is that Rivers, who dropped 46 points in his season opener, would love the chance to play with Irving, who dropped 31 on Michigan State before the injury.
“He would love to play with him,” Doc said. “Yeah, that’d be fun.”
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
NEW YORK — Celtics coach Doc Rivers said his son, Austin, hopes to team with Kyrie Irving next year at Duke.
Austin Rivers is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Winter Park (Fla.) who signed with Duke last month. If he and Irving were to play together, they could form one of the most explosive backcourts in the nation.
“Oh yeah, he’s hoping to play with Kyrie,” Doc said Wednesday before the Celtics-Knicks game at MSG. “That still may or may not happen, whether he’s injured or not. But I’m just hoping Kyrie is back and healthy. He’s a terrific player.”
Irving, a freshman out of West Orange, N.J. and Elizabeth St. Patrick, has been out with a toe injury since the Dec. 4 victory over Butler at the Izod Center. It remains uncertain when he’ll return.
Irving is projected as a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and it is unclear whether he would come out after an abbreviated freshman season or not. Doc said he didn’t think a potential NBA lockout would influence college players. The NBA Draft will take place before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire June 30.
“I don’t know,” Doc said. “I don’t think the lockout will honestly matter whether guys come in or stay out. I think they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do.”
What is clear is that Rivers, who dropped 46 points in his season opener, would love the chance to play with Irving, who dropped 31 on Michigan State before the injury.
“He would love to play with him,” Doc said. “Yeah, that’d be fun.”
And like ZAGS on Facebook.
