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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The Denver Nuggets are generating a significant buzz in the league as they make their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. In Game 1 against the Miami Heat, Nikola Jokic, the star player for the Nuggets, led the team to an 11-point victory. The Nuggets’ success can be attributed to their cohesive team play, which has garnered admiration from around the league. While the Nuggets continue to win over fans, a former player of the team shared his disappointment of leaving Denver at the wrong time.

The former Nuggets guard saw his postseason run come to an end at the hands of his former employers. On top of that, his father got axed as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers after another disappointing Semi-finals exit. Safe to say, the family isn’t having the best time on the court.

Former Denver Nuggets player expresses his regret on leaving the franchise

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Selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Austin Rivers embarked on a professional career that saw him spend three years each with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, he has moved between teams, searching for a stable role in the league. The Denver Nuggets acquired the services of the 6’4″ guard, and he proved to be a valuable addition to the franchise.

via Getty

During his time with the Nuggets, Rivers played an important role as a dependable bench player. He contributed an average of 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Rivers also showcased his defensive abilities, particularly on the perimeter, where he provided solid coverage against opponents. However, after just one season, he made the decision to sign a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ironically, the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. In light of his former team’s success, Rivers has expressed regret over his decision to leave the Nuggets, recognizing the missed opportunity to be a part of their impressive playoff run.

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In a recent podcast with the RingerNBA, Austin Rivers expresses his regret. Referring to his exit from the Nuggets he said,?“I left the party then all the pretty girls showed up and it became a night to remember and I wasn’t at the party”.? He acknowledged that during his time with the team, they were unable to achieve the desired level of success. However, following his departure, the team has taken a step forward and continues to wow the fans. Rivers expressed his feelings weeks after his dad, Doc Rivers, lost his coaching job.

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Doc Rivers was axed by the 76ers after more playoff disappointment

Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers has had a long coaching stint in the NBA. He won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics back in 2008. Doc Rivers is known for his defensive style of coaching. He believes that a strong defensive foundation is crucial for team success. Rivers served as the head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and took the team to the Conference Semi-finals.

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However, the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in 7 games. Rivers has a poor Game 7 record, losing 10 times in his career. In addition to this, the last 5 losses came in consecutive years. The 76ers fired the coach as they felt a change was necessary.

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