Ex-NBA guard-turned-ESPN host works out for teams in hopes of comeback
Feb 18, 2023; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The NBA logo on the court at Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
One of ESPN’s current hosts is hoping to follow the Tristan Thompson model.
Chris Haynes of TNT reported this week that former NBA guard Austin Rivers hosted a workout for NBA teams in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday. Rivers, whose goal is reportedly to make a comeback to the league, got 10-15 teams to attend his workout.
Haynes also shared footage of Rivers’ workout, which included another ex-NBA guard in John Wall as well.
Video footage obtained by @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport from the private workout of Austin Rivers and John Wall in Orlando this morning with half the league’s teams attending. pic.twitter.com/nj0EglmsNr
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 20, 2023
Rivers has played 11 total NBA seasons for seven different teams. He found a solid niche in the league as a secondary ball-handler and shotmaker (as well as an underrated enforcer) but has gone unsigned to this point of 2023-24.
In the meantime, Rivers has spent this season as a host for ESPN, appearing on shows such as “NBA Today” (and having some great stories to share too). But Rivers is still only 31 years old, and there appears to be some mutual interest in his potential return to the Association.