Duke basketball: Ranking all 27 Blue Devils in the NBA this season

Ranking Duke basketball’s NBA players this season: No. 16 Austin Rivers

• Age: 28
• Current team: Denver Nuggets (42-21)
• Games played this season: 27
• Games started: Two
• Season averages: 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 assists, 0.1 blocks
• Shooting percentages: 41.6 from the field, 32.4 beyond the arc, 73.7 from the foul line

By all accounts, the Denver Nuggets are pleased with their decision to pick up Austin Rivers. Heck, fans and media on social media are even praising his defensive efforts — not exactly his strong suit throughout his nine-year pro career — in his six appearances thus far for the title contenders.

So it was no surprise on Thursday to hear that the franchise has secured River’s services for the remainder of the season after initially signing the potential sixth man to a 10-day contract last week.

Before the 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard landed in Denver, the Oklahoma City Thunder had bought out his contract and immediately released him following a March trade with the New York Knicks, who no longer needed the Duke basketball product’s services due to their acquisition of Derrick Rose.