PHILADELPHIA – Doc Rivers coach Doc Rivers talks to his former Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, but the discussion of his son Austin Rivers is now out of bounds.
Rivers, who signed with the Knicks as a free agent in November, was banned from the rotation after the Super Bowl Sunday game for Derrick Rose. Rivers did not handle it wonderfully as he was missing from the bench during a recent home game.
He has not been with the Knicks since the All-Star break ended for personal reasons. ” Thibodeau said Rivers was expecting a baby with his fiancée and was taking paternity leave. The deadline for trading is March 25th. In his last conversation with the media, Rivers said he feels he can be traded at any moment.
“It’s basketball. I stay out of it, ‘the Sixers coach said before facing the Knicks on Tuesday. ‘Tom and I talk, but not about Austin. I do not call coaches and suggest who they should play. I just do not. If it’s your son or not. I stay away from it. ‘
In December, Rivers, who played for the Knicks from 1992-94, told The Post he was recommending his former franchise to his son. When asked about his son’s situation now, Rivers darkened uncomfortably again.
“I’m not commenting on that,” Rivers said. ‘In this case, Austin is a player on their team. This is not a place to comment. It would be like commenting on players in other teams [regarding playing time]. It will be weak. ‘
However, Rivers was happy to share his thoughts on Julius Randle’s turnaround – with his son as the source.
“I’m just happy for him,” Rivers said. ‘I get information by talking to Austin. Austin is just going on about what kind of person he is, how he is a good passer and everyone in the gym works out, how all his teammates love him. Julius Randle had not had that narrative before. When a veteran player like Austin, who’s been in the league for eight years, says this about a younger guy, it tells you something about Julius and what kind of man he is. ‘