Mike Krzyzewski didn't stroke the showman's ego of Austin Rivers when the former electrifying No. 1 overall recruit was a Duke basketball one-and-done in 2011-12.
When Rivers hit his freshman wall, averaging only 8.6 points across his first five outings in January, Coach K removed the eventual ACC Rookie of the Year from the starting lineup against Wake Forest. Rivers responded with 20 points off the bench in a 91-73 win, and he never scored fewer than 10 points in a game the rest of the season.
Rivers, now with 11 years of NBA experience under his belt and fresh off his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, spoke highly of Coach K's tactics back then. And in a Twitter Q&A with fans on Monday, the 30-year-old guard and former lottery pick reflected on his appreciation for the tough love he received as a Blue Devil.
Recalling his favorite Coach K moment, Rivers recounted the time the now-retired Hall of Famer and five-time national champion humbled him in practice with two celebrities in attendance:
"Him cussing me out in a live practice with [Spike Lee] and [Peyton Manning] there. I was embarrassed, but looking back I know he was just trying to challenge me and get that cool sh*t out of my game."
Interestingly, the son of long-time NBA head coach Doc Rivers also noted on Monday that he could see himself one day pacing the sidelines in the league:
Of course, when it comes to Duke basketball lore, Austin Rivers will best be remembered for his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to crush Dean E. Smith Center patrons in a come-from-behind 85-84 victory over archrival UNC on Feb. 8, 2012.
Not only is that shot arguably the Blue Devils' all-time sweetest in the rivalry, but according to Rivers, it remains his favorite from any point in his playing career:
As a reserve for the Timberwolves this past season, Rivers averaged a career-low 4.9 points per game. The NBA journeyman (stints with seven franchises) will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
There's no telling where he might land.
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