Ranking all 25 Duke basketball players in the NBA this season
By Matt Giles
Guard. 169. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 14. player. 8th NBA season. Austin Rivers
- Games played this season: 50
- Games started this season: 4
- Minutes per game: 23.6
- Points per game: 8.5
- Rebounds per game: 2.4
- Assists per game: 1.5
- Blocks per game: 0.2
- Steals per game: 0.7
- FG percentage: 41.2
- 3-point percentage: 33.7
- FT percentage: 68.8
On a Houston Rockets team featuring prolific scorers James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the backcourt, former Duke basketball one-and-done Austin Rivers has still found a way to chip in buckets with regularity. Sure, he’s not the most consistent shooter, but his strong drives, finishes, and dishes make him an important option for the 34-20 Rockets, nonetheless.
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The 6-foot-3, 200-pound 27-year-old typically comes off the bench as the backup point guard. And though his offense has always been a notch above his defense, what seems to have kept him in the league and on quality teams is his competitive — borderline cocky — demeanor.