David Rivers

{{about||the American football player|David Rivers (American football)|the politician|David Foote Rivers}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = David Rivers

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| height_m = 1.81

| weight_lb = 170

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|01|20}}

| birth_place = Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| high_school = {{nowrap|St. Anthony (Jersey City, New Jersey)}}

| college = Notre Dame (1984–1988)

| draft_year = 1988

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 25

| draft_team = Los Angeles Lakers

| career_start = 1988

| career_end = 2001

| career_number = 14, 44, 32, 4, 15

| career_position = Point guard

| coach_start = 2014

| coach_end = 2015

| years1 = {{nbay|1988|full=y}}

| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers

| years2 = {{nbay|1989|full=y}}

| team2 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years3 = 1990–1991

| team3 = Tulsa Fast Breakers

| years4 = 1991

| team4 = Memphis Rockers

| years5 = {{nbay|1991|full=y}}

| team5 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years6 = 1992–1993

| team6 = La Crosse Catbirds

| years7 = 1993–1995

| team7 = Olympique Antibes

| years8 = 1995–1997

| team8 = Olympiacos

| years9 = 1997–1998

| team9 = Fortitudo Bologna

| years10 = 1998–2000

| team10 = Tofaş

| years11 = 2000–2001

| team11 = Olympiacos

| years12 = 2003–2004

| team12 = Olympique Antibes

| cyears1 = 2008

| cteam1 = Virtus Bologna (Academy)

| cyears2 = 2014–2015

| cteam2 = Kennesaw State (associate HC)

| highlights =

As player:

EuroLeague champion (1997)
EuroLeague Final Four MVP (1997)
EuroLeague assists leader (2000)
EuroLeague steals leader (1998)
4× FIBA EuroStar (1996–1999)
FIBA EuroStars MVP (1996)
Italian Cup winner (1998)
Greek League Hall of Fame (2022)
2× Greek League champion (1996, 1997)
Greek Cup winner (1997)
Greek League MVP (1997)
Greek Cup Finals MVP (1997)
French League champion (1995)
French League Foreign Player's MVP (1995)
2x French All Star Game (1994, 1995)
2× Turkish League champion (1999, 2000)
2× Turkish Cup winner (1999, 2000)
CBA champion (1992)
CBA Playoff/Finals MVP (1992)
All-CBA First Team (1992)
All-CBA Second Team (1993)
2× CBA assists leader (1992, 1993)
Second-team All-American – NABC (1988)
Second-team Parade All-American (1984)
McDonald's All American (1984)

}}

David Lee Rivers (born January 20, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. A 5’11”(1.80 m ) tall[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=AHC#!careerstats RIVERS, DAVID HEIGHT: 1.88.]{{Cite web |url=http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=RIV-DAV-65 |title=David Rivers Altezza: 188 cm. |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213341/http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=RIV-DAV-65 |url-status=dead }} point guard, he reached star status in the EuroLeague, mainly while playing with Olympiacos, under head coach Dušan Ivković. Rivers played 3 seasons in the NBA, one with the Los Angeles Lakers (1988–89) and two more with the Los Angeles Clippers (1989–90, 1991–92). He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Early years

Rivers grew up in Jersey City, and played high school basketball under Bob Hurley, at powerhouse St. Anthony High School. He contributed to the team winning three State Championships and became the school's first player to be invited to the McDonald's All-American Game (1984).

Rivers was teammates at St. Anthony with John Valentin.{{cite news |last1=Horgan |first1=Sean |title=Valentin Knows what to Do in Short Time He's Given |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-03-15-0000204554-story.html |access-date=August 21, 2022 |work=Hartford Courant |date=March 15, 1992}}

College career

Rivers accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of Notre Dame, to play under head coach Digger Phelps. As a freshman, he was named a starter at point guard. As a sophomore, he contributed to the team reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

On August 24, 1986, before the start of the season, he was a passenger in a van being driven by former college teammate Ken Barlow, returning to an apartment they shared after working a summer job with a caterer business, when the vehicle overturned and went into a ditch, after trying to avoid an oncoming car. Barlow had minor cuts, but Rivers suffered a life-threatening 15-inch abdominal cut, that he was able to recover from to play in 32 college games that season.{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/399668812/ | title= Irish's Rivers, Hawks' Barlow hurt in auto crash | publisher=The Atlanta Constitution | date=August 25, 1988 | access-date=January 5, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-29-sp-4950-story.html | title=1988 NBA DRAFT : Lakers Make David Rivers the Last of the First | work=Los Angeles Times | date=June 28, 1988 | access-date=January 5, 2020}}

He was named the team's MVP for four consecutive seasons and was a team co-captain for three straight seasons. He received third-team All-American in 1986–87, and second-team honors in '87–88

He currently ranks fourth in school history, in scoring with 2,058 points, and second in Notre Dame history in assists (586). He also ranks second all-time in steals (201), and steals average (1.7 steals per game), second in games started (116), fourth in assists average (5.0 assists per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.406), ninth in games played (118), 11th all-time in three-point field goals made (67), and 13th in three-point field goals attempted (165). He was selected to the 1987 NCAA Championship All-Regional team. He earned four monograms while a member of the Fighting Irish.

Professional playing career

=National Basketball Association=

Rivers was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round (25th overall) of the 1988 NBA draft, after the player they were targeting (Brian Shaw), was selected one choice before.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-29-sp-4950-story.html | title=1988 NBA DRAFT : Lakers Make David Rivers the Last of the First | work=Los Angeles Times | date=June 29, 1988 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} As a rookie he played in 47 regular season games, averaging 2.9 points and 2.3 assists per game, and 6 playoff games, averaging 2.5 points and 1 assist per game. The team eventually lost in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Rivers was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989 NBA expansion draft.{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/06/15/Expansion-claims-top-Bad-Boy/6569613886400/ | title=Expansion claims top 'Bad Boy' | publisher=UPI | date=June 15, 1989 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He was released before the start of the regular season on November 2. On November 14, 1989, he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers. He played in 53 games (11 of them as a starter), averaging 4.2 points and 3 assists per contest. He wasn't re-signed after the season.

On September 18, 1990, he signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-09-19-1990262066-story.html | title=Transactions | work=The Baltimore Sun | date=September 19, 1990 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He was released on October 19.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/20/sports/transactions-875890.html | title=Transactions | work=The New York Times | date=October 20, 1990 |access-date=January 5, 2020}}

In 1990, he signed with the Tulsa Fast Breakers of the Continental Basketball Association. In December, he was placed in the injured reserve list with a sprained ankle.

On July 12, 1991, he was traded to the La Crosse Catbirds of the Continental Basketball Association, playing under coach Flip Saunders.{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/452968707/ | title=Transactions | publisher=The Daily Oklahoman | date=July 13, 1991 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} On November 23, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, playing in 15 games before being released.{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-11-24-1991328113-story.html | title=Transactions | work=The Baltimore Sun | date=November 24, 1991 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} On January 7, 1992, he was released by the Los Angeles Clippers.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/08/sports/transactions-473192.html | title=Transactions | work=The New York Times | date=January 8, 1992 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He returned to La Crosse and later was called up by Los Angeles Clippers, where he played 15 games of the 1991–1992 season. On December 17, he re-signed with La Crosse, where he won the league title.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/18/sports/transactions-862092.html | title=Transactions | work=The New York Times | date=December 18, 1992 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He averaged 27.1 points and 9.6 assists during the finals and received MVP honors.{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/04/23/La-Crosse-wins-CBA-title/9509704001600/ | title=La Crosse wins CBA title | publisher=UPI | date=April 23, 1992 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He was selected to the All-CBA First Team in 1992 and Second Team in 1993.{{cite web |title=David Rivers minor league basketball statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-riverdav001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=February 26, 2025}}

=Europe=

In 1993, he signed with Olympique Antibes of the LNB Pro A French League, where he played 2 seasons, winning the Championship in 1995.

In 1995, he signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League, winning the title in 1996. In 1996–1997, he contributed to the team winning the Greek Basketball Cup, the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague (the second time a Greek club won the trophy{{Cite web|url=https://www.euroleague.net/final-four/vitoria-gasteiz-2019/champions|title = Champions – Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL| date=October 3, 2024 }}), where he faced FC Barcelona Bàsquet and was named EuroLeague Final Four MVP, averaging 27 points per game in the two Final Four games in Rome. During that season, Rivers averaged 17.2 points, 3.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 37.9 minutes per game in 23 games played in the EuroLeague. At that stage of his career, he was considered one of the best basketball players in Europe {{citation needed|date=June 2024}}. He is remembered as a legend by Olympiacos fans and he is widely considered one of the greatest players in Olympiacos history.[http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/5x94xtwjbs3pihgn/club-legend-david-rivers-olympiacos-piraeus Club Legend: David Rivers, Olympiacos Piraeus], euroleague.net[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1997.roundID_2568.playerID_17893.teamID_2227.html David Lee Rivers Olympiacos Piraeus BC] He was also named the European Player of the Year in 1997, making him the first American ever to receive European Basketball's highest honor.

In the 1997 off-season, Rivers left Olympiacos to join Italian League club Teamsystem Bologna, playing alongside former NBA All-star Dominique Wilkins. He averaged 12.8 points, 3.3 assists per game and contributed to the team winning the Italian Basketball Cup, receiving Co-MVP honors with teammate Carlton Myers.

In 1998, he signed with Tofaş of the Turkish League, where he won two Turkish League championships and two Turkish Cups, before re-joining Olympiacos for one season.{{cite web |url=http://listweb.bilkent.edu.tr/basket/2000/Jun/0236.html |title=BASKET : Turkiye Basketbol Haberlesme Listesi: [BASKET:28121] Tofas段n 26 yillik tarihi |access-date=June 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725212255/http://listweb.bilkent.edu.tr/basket/2000/Jun/0236.html |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |language=tr}}

In 2000, he returned to play with Olympiacos B.C., contributing to the team reaching the Greek Basket League Championship game, where it lost to Panathinaikos B.C.

Although he didn't play for 2 years, he then signed with Olympique Antibes for the 2003–04 season in the second division of the LNB Pro A French League. In 2013, he was inducted into the Olympique Antibes Basketball Club Hall of Fame and had his jersey number retired.

Personal life

In 2009, he was hired as a coach by Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A, to assist in the development of junior players that season. On April 22, 2014, he was hired as an associate head coach for the Kennesaw State Owls.{{cite web |url=https://ksuowls.com/news/2014/4/22/MBB_0422145728.aspx?path=mbball | title=MBB: Rivers Named Associate head coach of Men's Basketball Program | work=Los Angeles Times | date=June 17, 1986 |access-date=January 5, 2020}} He is a director at Village Camps Basketball Camps in Switzerland.

On Monday, April 15, 2024, YouTuber, WHAT THE HALE$, posted a $1,000 abandoned storage unit video where he was invited by two fans, now known as TDK COLLECTS, to explore a 20 year old storage unit formerly owned by Rivers{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iPPzNTTesk&si=VeKGoCyjH8-86y9h&t=1794 | title=I Bought a Millionaire Nba Player's Storage Unit | website=YouTube | date=April 15, 2024 }}

Career achievements

=Club titles=

CBA: 1 (with La Crosse Catbirds: 1991–92)
French League: 1 (with Olympique Antibes: 1994–95)
Greek League: 2 (with Olympiacos: 1995–96, 1996–97)
Greek Cup: 1 (with Olympiacos: 1996–97)
EuroLeague: 1 (with Olympiacos: 1996–97)
Italian Cup: 1 (with Fortitudo Bologna: 1997–98)
Turkish League: 2 (with Tofaş: 1998–99, 1999–00)
Turkish Cup: 2 (with Tofaş: 1998–99, 1999–00)

References

External links

[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_2000.roundID_2571.playerID_17893.teamID_1469.html FIBA Europe profile]
[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=AHC#!careerstats Euroleague.net profile]
[http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=RIV-DAV-65 Italian League Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213341/http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=RIV-DAV-65 |date=March 4, 2016 }} {{in lang|it}}
[https://www.tblstat.net/player/491 TBLStat.net Profile]

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Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:All-American college men's basketball players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey

Category:American men's basketball players