“Lost Interest”: New York Knicks’ Austin Rivers Has a Message for Free Agents Who Won’t Challenge Themselves

Every NBA player shares a different motive when he joins an NBA team out of his own discretion. For someone, financial numbers can be the driving force, while for others it can be the chance to win a championship or retire wearing the jersey of a great franchise. However, the New York Knicks’ latest signing had some unique preferences.

Austin Rivers signed a 3-year contract worth $10 million with the Knicks. Out of all the options he had in the store, his choice had some hardcore logic behind it. The 28-YO who has already played for four teams is now intending to be the marathon-runner rather than playing on a sprint course.

Austin Rivers goes hard on the free agents ignoring the New York Knicks

The California-born player spoke openly about the culture where free agents like to jump on the bandwagon rather than picking tougher challenges. He expressed, “It’s easy to go somewhere where everything already is set up and they’ve been to the playoffs four, five years in a row. I’ve been on those teams. Those are great experiences. But I want to take those experiences and lessons and help this team and this organization as many ways as possible. That era of people not wanting to come here, our job is to change that.”

The highest-valued NBA team, the NY Knicks have had a very rough run in the past two decades. They have nothing but one conference semis on their resume to ‘not’ show off. Joining one such team is a welcoming move because all that Austin seems to now want is to Make the Knicks Great Again. The Knicks roster has RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, and Ignas Brazdeikis among others to help Austin with his ambitious intentions to push them deeper into the playoffs.

What expertise does Austin bring in?

Champion head coach Doc Rivers’ son, Austin is a great ball-defender. For sure, bigger wing players do make him struggle, but he can do well if he picks the offensive rhythm that he showcased with the Clippers in 2017-18. About his new responsibility, he later added, “My role is going to be to help the team win. If they start me, great. If they don’t I’m still going to be in there competing every night.”

He started in just 4 games last season with the Rockets and averaged 8.8. However, he can use his experience to upgrade the game of the signings like that of rookie Obi Toppin. More than anything, the Knicks would want a confident and loyal addition to their side that can show them some hope. Austin is doing just that, kudos!

Read also – Biggest Losers of NBA Free Agency: New York Knicks