The Knicks had previously only played two father-son combinations for the organization. On the last night of 2020, a third is expected to be added.
After missing the entire preseason and the first four games of the regular season with a groin injury, combo guard Austin Rivers is expected to make his debut Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors in Tampa. Rivers’ father Doc, the current head coach of the Philadelphia Sixers, played for the Knicks from 1992 to 1994.
Rivers, 28, says he injured his groin a few days before he was acquired on Nov. 22 on a contract with Houston, agreeing to a three-year, $ 10 million deal with the Knicks. However, only the first year of the agreement is guaranteed.
“It simply came to our notice then. I’ve never missed a full training camp. I didn’t get to play any games, a preseason game, I didn’t even go from five to five. Just get in, “Rivers said before Thursday’s game. “It’s basketball at the end of the day. You just go out and play hard and it’s not rocket science. You just try to help the team win.
The nine-year NBA veteran added that he wasn’t sure if he would have a minute restriction on his Knicks debut or if he would adapt to a guard rotation behind starters Elfrid Payton and RJ Barrett.
Frank Ntilikina (right knee sprain) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left quad) have been ruled out of Thursday’s game, with Alec Burks (left ankle sprain) and rookie Immanuel Quickley (hip pointer) being questioned. Quickley had missed the previous three games with a hip pointer suffered in the Knicks ’loss to Indiana during the season.
First-year coach Tom Thibodeau makes the Knicks “play hard,” Rivers noted, with wins in his two previous games against Milwaukee and Cleveland. Thibodeau has been a member of the Doc Rivers staff in Boston since 2007-10.
“I’ll be honest, even individually, that I haven’t played with them, the only thing I know I have to do: shoot, maybe I’ll do everything, maybe I’ll miss everything. I’m going to get that feeling and rhythm going back to playing these games, but the only thing that has to be consistent is that when I’m out, I have to play a lot, ”said Austin Rivers. “Because now this is what our team symbolizes. We’re one of those teams, there’s no night off when you play the Knicks. This is the mindset we are trying to establish here.
“I know that marks and faults can falter, but your effort cannot. This is what Thibs has instilled in this team. I’ll just go in and play hard. “
The 6-foot, 4-foot Rivers averaged 8.8 points and 1.7 assists while hitting 42.1 percent of their shots (35.6 percent from three points) in 23.4 minutes in 68 games (four starts) with Houston last season.
There have only been two other parent-child tandems appearing in regular season games with the Knicks: Ernie and Kiki Vandeweghe and Henry and Mike Bibby.
Doc Rivers, who coached Austin for four seasons with the Clippers, said earlier this month that he pushed his son to sign with the Knicks because of the “great experience” he had with the organization.
“I think it’s the whole atmosphere of everything Thibs has come up with,” Austin Rivers said. “I think it has been a difference because that is what it demands. There is no other option. Don’t play hard, don’t play. That’s what she has with him. I think everyone has that image on our team. And I think everyone knows that: if you don’t play hard, you won’t play.
“There are only a few teams that have this identity and that is what we are trying to build here. Thibs is doing a great job and we are just following him. Everyone moves the ball and plays hard, and that will be what it will be ”.