Austin Rivers appreciation thread

[bob blue devil]

i would like to post a shout out to one of my favorite devils in recent memory.

in a lot of ways AR is a throwback. he didn't come to duke to "leave a legacy" and build his "brand", he came to duke to work hard, get better and beat the team you put in front of him and his teammates. he's not the type to disappear in the 4th quarter of the nba finals when his team needs him the most, he's the type to keep us in a game at unc and then have the onions to dagger them at the end.

maybe i'm assuming more about austin than i should, but i hope we get a lot more players with attitude "problems" like austin rivers. not to mention more players with his basketball skills.

[mgtr]

I agree that Austin Rivers did a great job for Duke, and I am happy that he came, and wish him great success.

[weezie]

I, too, have respect for Austin. Never any doubt about his always playing hard and never giving up. The young man just purely hated to lose. I'll miss seeing Doc at the games, too. Good luck Austin, it was a pleasure seeing you play up close.

[superdave]

Austin played as hard as anyone this year. He hustled, took the coaching and his lumps in stride and really improved. I'm most impressed by his improvement on the defensive end.

I will certainly miss him on the attack next year. I would have loved to see him play alongside Sulaimon and possibly Shabazz, but he's going to be a good pro and that's his ultimate dream. Godspeed.

[wallyman]

He was our best player. No one played harder or showed a fiercer will to win. He made one of the most memorable shots in Duke history. Given the one-and-done era, he seemed likely to stay only one year, and that's what happened. Would have been great if he stayed longer, but all best wishes to him and Doc, who were a great part of Duke basketball this year. Not sure he'll be an instant impact player in the NBA and not sure leaving now is the best move for him, but that's his decision, not ours.

[MCFinARL]

Just want to note that Austin is very appreciative of Duke and Duke fans, at least based on his tweets. He sent out a couple last night asking folks to vote for Miles Plumlee in the college slam dunk contest, and he sent these two out on Monday after his announcement:

@AustinRivers25 I just want to thank all the fans that have supported me this year. it was so fun playing there and becoming apart of the duke family!
@AustinRivers25 I appreciate everybody, and the support y'all have given me! Duke nation has truly made me a better person and player! Duke #1

Austin clearly worked hard, cared about winning games for Duke, and improved considerably, especially on defense, over the course of the season. From a fan perspective, he was exciting to watch, and his interviews were always interesting. I don't love the one-and-done phenomenon generally, but that is the basketball environment we have, and I don't think it's fair for people to suggest Austin Rivers (or Kyrie Irving before him) is somehow a lesser person, or not a "true" Duke guy, because he charts the course he feels is best for him in that environment. (I don't mean to say people shouldn't decide that they, personally, like players more who stay 3 or 4 years--obviously that is a legitimate personal preference--but that it doesn't seem right to judge a player's character based on being one and done unless there's some clear evidence that he pursued his own goals during the season at the expense of his team, which I don't see here at all.)

Thanks to Austin for choosing Duke and for giving it your all while you were there. In exchange you got the opportunity to learn from a great coaching staff (which it appears you took full advantage of) and the opportunity to enjoy a year of college at a great school (which I hope you took advantage of). I wish you great success in the NBA, and I hope you have a chance to come back and finish your degree.

[Kedsy]

Maximum effort every play on the court. Very well-spoken off the court. I thought he did Duke proud, and I can't understand the level of undeserved criticism. Good luck to Austin in the League.

[MChambers]

Just want to note that Austin is very appreciative of Duke and Duke fans, at least based on his tweets. He sent out a couple last night asking folks to vote for Miles Plumlee in the college slam dunk contest, and he sent these two out on Monday after his announcement:

@AustinRivers25 I just want to thank all the fans that have supported me this year. it was so fun playing there and becoming apart of the duke family!
@AustinRivers25 I appreciate everybody, and the support y'all have given me! Duke nation has truly made me a better person and player! Duke #1

Austin clearly worked hard, cared about winning games for Duke, and improved considerably, especially on defense, over the course of the season. From a fan perspective, he was exciting to watch, and his interviews were always interesting. I don't love the one-and-done phenomenon generally, but that is the basketball environment we have, and I don't think it's fair for people to suggest Austin Rivers (or Kyrie Irving before him) is somehow a lesser person, or not a "true" Duke guy, because he charts the course he feels is best for him in that environment. (I don't mean to say people shouldn't decide that they, personally, like players more who stay 3 or 4 years--obviously that is a legitimate personal preference--but that it doesn't seem right to judge a player's character based on being one and done unless there's some clear evidence that he pursued his own goals during the season at the expense of his team, which I don't see here at all.)

Thanks to Austin for choosing Duke and for giving it your all while you were there. In exchange you got the opportunity to learn from a great coaching staff (which it appears you took full advantage of) and the opportunity to enjoy a year of college at a great school (which I hope you took advantage of). I wish you great success in the NBA, and I hope you have a chance to come back and finish your degree.

I'd like to second everything you and others have posted in this thread.

[FerryFor50]

Just want to note that Austin is very appreciative of Duke and Duke fans, at least based on his tweets. He sent out a couple last night asking folks to vote for Miles Plumlee in the college slam dunk contest, and he sent these two out on Monday after his announcement:

@AustinRivers25 I just want to thank all the fans that have supported me this year. it was so fun playing there and becoming apart of the duke family!
@AustinRivers25 I appreciate everybody, and the support y'all have given me! Duke nation has truly made me a better person and player! Duke #1

Austin clearly worked hard, cared about winning games for Duke, and improved considerably, especially on defense, over the course of the season. From a fan perspective, he was exciting to watch, and his interviews were always interesting. I don't love the one-and-done phenomenon generally, but that is the basketball environment we have, and I don't think it's fair for people to suggest Austin Rivers (or Kyrie Irving before him) is somehow a lesser person, or not a "true" Duke guy, because he charts the course he feels is best for him in that environment. (I don't mean to say people shouldn't decide that they, personally, like players more who stay 3 or 4 years--obviously that is a legitimate personal preference--but that it doesn't seem right to judge a player's character based on being one and done unless there's some clear evidence that he pursued his own goals during the season at the expense of his team, which I don't see here at all.)

Thanks to Austin for choosing Duke and for giving it your all while you were there. In exchange you got the opportunity to learn from a great coaching staff (which it appears you took full advantage of) and the opportunity to enjoy a year of college at a great school (which I hope you took advantage of). I wish you great success in the NBA, and I hope you have a chance to come back and finish your degree.

To me, Irving and Rivers will always be true Duke guys.

Rivers, for his game winner against UNC and Kyrie for his effort against Arizona when no one else decided to show up. :)

[jv001]

Thanks Austin for picking Duke University and thank you for your effort on each and every play this year. I wish you success in your NBA career and hope it's a long one. God Bless you young man. GoDuke!

[Jarhead]

I'd like to second everything you and others have posted in this thread.

That's my feeling, too, with one qualifier. He may have left one year too early. Look at the team stats for the season (http://goduke.statsgeek.com/basketball-m/seasons/season-stats.php?season=2011-12). His is not the best, especially in the critical accuracy and turnover columns.

[killerleft]

i would like to post a shout out to one of my favorite devils in recent memory.

in a lot of ways AR is a throwback. he didn't come to duke to "leave a legacy" and build his "brand", he came to duke to work hard, get better and beat the team you put in front of him and his teammates. he's not the type to disappear in the 4th quarter of the nba finals when his team needs him the most, he's the type to keep us in a game at unc and then have the onions to dagger them at the end.

maybe i'm assuming more about austin than i should, but i hope we get a lot more players with attitude "problems" like austin rivers. not to mention more players with his basketball skills.

I couldn't agree more. Coach K gave him free reign since he was our best penetrator. I thought Austin did very, very well, considering the opposition always knew who was going to drive.

He never took a play off. No doubt he has much to learn, but his learning curve was very good all year. And there was no question that we got his best every time he took the floor. What more can you ask? We could have gotten a prima donna like Barnes, ya know? Instead, all Duke fans can be proud of what he will accomplish. And, oh, that dagger against Carolina was just about as good as it gets:D.

Go, Austin... and please show the Black Falcon what an "illustrious career" really means!

[MCFinARL]

That's my feeling, too, with one qualifier. He may have left one year too early. Look at the team stats for the season (http://goduke.statsgeek.com/basketball-m/seasons/season-stats.php?season=2011-12). His is not the best, especially in the critical accuracy and turnover columns.

You can certainly make a reasonable argument about whether Austin would have benefited from another year at Duke. Ultimately, though, that's his call, and I hope it works out well for him.

[hq2]

The Carolina game was a classic; it will live in the top 5 of all time Duke Carolina games. Nothing could be finer!

Thank you Austin!

[flyingdutchdevil]

Don't know how this wasn't posted yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X1ewxVwhug

I can watch this time and time again. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

[miramar]

that he was the anti-Barnes. Instead of being calculating and scripted, he spoke his mind and he came through. He said he would make an impact in the UNC game, and he certainly did. And when he was pissed off, he said so in national TV without worrying if it would affect his draft status or his future earnings.

[Furniture]

Don't know how this wasn't posted yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X1ewxVwhug

I can watch this time and time again. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

I agree. I can watch over and over and over again!

If I sometimes feel a little annoyed and betrayed that he has left us I just have to look at this and forget all of those feelings.

In time all we will remember is this shot!!

Good luck Austin! Look forward to watching you next year!

[duke80]

The Carolina game was a classic; it will live in the top 5 of all time Duke Carolina games. Nothing could be finer!

Thank you Austin!

Exactly! I was bumming until the last 10 minutes of that game and when Austin hit that shot I was screaming Oh my God over and over
like some religious fanatic. With tens of thousands of dukies screaming the same thing, maybe even God took notice of it. Austin can do
whatever he wants in my book. His will to win makes him the player he is. We were lucky to have him. Good luck in the NBA!

[slower]

Exactly! I was bumming until the last 10 minutes of that game and when Austin hit that shot I was screaming Oh my God over and over
like some religious fanatic. With tens of thousands of dukies screaming the same thing, maybe even God took notice of it. Austin can do
whatever he wants in my book. His will to win makes him the player he is. We were lucky to have him. Good luck in the NBA!

As Chris Collins is reputed to have said after the UNC game re:Austin - "That's what he DOES!"

Austin was a straight-up baller. And, yeah, he WAS the best player on the team. Thanks for everything, Austin, and best wishes in the future.

[ncexnyc]

A lot of kids can spend four years at Duke and never come close to giving us anything like, "The Shot." Austin graced us with one year of his time and effort and a play that will be shown everytime Duke plays UNC. Thank you good luck Austin.

[grossbus]

wish he had stayed another year, but appreciate that he was HERE when he was here.

and that shot...

[CA Cameron Crazie]

Austin played hard and with heart, more so than anyone on the team this year. For that, I respect him. I can't say I was a huge fan early on based on what I saw of him in HS or in the preseason, but the more I saw, the more I respected him. I also thought he improved over the year. Others may not think it was enough, but you can't knock progress, no matter how much it is.

[hurleyfor3]

How many other Duke players finished their careers undefeated at the venue located at 300 Skipper Bowles Drive? Boozer, Dunleavy and JWill were 3-0, Austin was 1-0, Maggette was 1-0, who else? Maybe someone who transferred?

[Eternal Outlaw]

Big fan of Austin and glad he came to Duke for a year which is a million times better than no years and choosing a different school. Can't wait until the draft and see what lucky franchise adds his contributions.

[jipops]

Thank you Austin for one of the best memories ever as a Duke fan. I still have it on the dvr and still use it as a pick-me-up. Your constant effort and fearless play on the court was great to watch.

[Andy7207]

The best part about Austin is that he definitely gave a crap every time he played. Very emotional in a good way.

[Devilsfan]

The best part of Austin's Duke career was "THE SHOT"!!!! We now have something the next one and done can try and better!

[Onlyduke]

Good luck, Austin ...... your shot in Chapel Hill made the whole season for me. Wish you weren't leaving. :)

[davekay1971]

Austin carries himself with class and sportsmanship and his behavior while he was at Duke has been nothing but a credit to the University.

On the court in his one season at Duke, he was fearless, driven, and, in several games, gave us much needed buckets at critical moments. I'm sorry to see him leaving after one season, because you could see the growth in his game, and I have little doubt he would have been one of the best players in the ACC next season.

The Shot was definitely one of the best single moments of the season, probably the best. Austin wanted to make his mark on the Duke-UNC rivalry, and he sure got that job done.

[Chris Randolph]

Thank you for your 4 and a half months of service to the Duke basketball program...

In all seriousness, he drove me crazy at times with some selfish decision making but the kid has a lion's heart and does whatever it takes to win. His "swag" "arrogance" "hunger" were attributes that I wish some his teammates would have displayed on a regular basis like Austin did. Best of luck

[dukeman28428]

Thank you for choosing Duke and for playing hard to win every game.

Wish you all the best in the NBA and come back to Cameron as often as you can.

Stay a Dukie for life and have fun in the NBA.

Great shot in the Dean Dome that will live forever!!! :)

[Kedsy]

The front page article/interview with Austin shows what a well-spoken young man he is. It should also put to rest a lot of the negative stuff that's been said about him. I'm glad he wore Duke blue this season and will forever view him as one of our guys.