It’s official; Austin Rivers will be back with the Denver Nuggets next season. The point guard was acquired by the Nuggets at the trade deadline last season.
And he proved to be a solid force on the offensive end in the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The #Nuggets make it officially official: Austin Rivers is back on a multiyear deal, team announces.
— Mike Singer (@msinger) September 1, 2021
Son of legendary head coach Doc Rivers, Austin has had a long career in the NBA, bouncing around to several NBA teams such as the Hornets, Clippers, Rockets, Knicks, and now the Nuggets.
Rivers is by no means a superstar in the NBA. But he has shown on several occasions that he is a solid offensive player, who can put up decent numbers on the offensive end.
Rivers’ main disadvantage is that he is slightly smaller than many guards in the NBA. But despite this, he has managed to find several homes in the NBA. Rivers ended up being a great pick-up for the Nuggets last season.
With Jamal Murray slated to return sometime in the middle of the 2021-22 NBA season, Rivers will see his minutes reduced upon his return. But he will prove a great boost to the Nuggets’ offense off the bench.
Denver currently has a solid team in the NBA, one that could become a future championship contender if Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. continue to develop on the upward trajectory they have been on.
Rivers has been on a team in the hunt for a championship before. When he played for the Houston Rockets, Rivers served as the back-up for the guard duo of Chris Paul and James Harden.
And while the team never made it to the NBA Finals, Rivers showed that he can be a valuable asset for a team looking to make a championship run.
With Rivers back in Denver, the Nuggets would like to improve upon their performance next season. Nikola Jokic will be expected to carry much of the offensive load, but Rivers will be relied upon.
