Even as a freshman, Austin Rivers was arguably Duke’s best and gutsiest player last season. But now Rivers has left the Blue Devils behind for the NBA’s money-be-greener pastures. He’ll be tag-teaming with Anthony Davis on the Hornets this season.
But that doesn’t seem to matter to Duke guard Seth Curry, who believes the Blue Devils can be even better next year despite Rivers’ departure. Why?
“We like each other,” Curry told CBS’s Shawn Krest. It’s not that the Duke players hated each other last season, Curry elaborated, but “we weren’t close like this.”
“The biggest thing is trying to be more of a family,” Curry also said to Blue Devil Nation (via The Dagger). “Just get to know each other off the court. This summer we’ve been really hanging out a lot more and getting to know each other. It seems like everyone likes each other more this year, so it should be a fun year.”
It’s important to note that not once did Curry utter Rivers’ name in any of those remarks. But the incredible hubris that Austin “Call Me ‘Sub Zero’ Before I Play a Single College Game” Rivers is known for has been unmistakable. Even he’s acknowledged it. He’s also been accused maybe once or twice of being a ball hog. And none of that is really conducive to Coach K’s brand of ball.
So, Curry might not have mentioned Rivers, but, directed at his former teammate or not, his comments appear to confirm that Duke is better off without Rivers’ wannabe-Kobe mentality.
Photo: Peter Casey-US PRESSWIRE
