Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Guard Austin Rivers Lands New Gig

The Duke basketball one-and-done isn't on an NBA squad, but he'll be on the air.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard Austin Rivers (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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ESPN revealed this week that NBA journeyman and former Duke basketball guard Austin Rivers, best remembered in Durham for his 3-point splash to give the Blue Devils a road win over UNC in 2012, is joining its team as a studio analyst.

RELATED: Ranking All 26 Duke One-And-Dones Under Coach K

On Monday, The Athletic's Richard Deitsch explained the 31-year-old Rivers' expected role for the network:

"Rivers' main focus will be studio work, but at some point, he will cover a game with his father, Doc Rivers. Doc joined the network on a multiyear deal in July after spending most of the past 24 seasons as an NBA coach. He had a brief stint as an ESPN/ABC analyst during the 2003-04 season after leaving the Orlando Magic."

Austin Rivers isn't shy about expressing his opinions and analysis on his podcast, Off Guard With Austin Rivers. He should make for a good fit behind the mic at ESPN.

Furthermore, he has 11 years of experience as an NBA player, spanning seven franchises, since getting drafted at No. 10 overall following his one-and-done Duke basketball campaign.

RELATED: List of Duke's All-Time First Round NBA Draft Picks

And on that note, there's still a chance Rivers find a spot on an NBA roster later this season. He's averaged 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 34.9 percent from three across his 707 regular season games in the league.

However, he's now over five years removed from the only two seasons he averaged double-digit points (his career-high 15.1 points per game came in 2017-18, his last season with the Los Angeles Clippers).

Last season, Rivers averaged a career-low 4.9 points, seeing action in 52 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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