Rivers Plays Tonight at Portsmouth Invitational

Rivers’ team tips off tonight at 9 pm. Yesterday the players arrived and got their measurable recorded. Rivers spoke to the media about the event.

Here is what he had to say from IUHoosiers.com.

“This opportunity, first and foremost, is a blessing and an honor. Just to be even thought of or invited to this camp. It’s been going on for years and this helps so many players. Really, when you look at Landry Fields, as a perfect example. Someone who really didn’t have an opportunity initially out of Stanford as far as the draft is concerned. He was able to get enforcements and play well and now he’s one of the best rookies in the NBA. Just little stories like that, you know, that really show the true testament of what Portsmouth can do for players. It really allows for great opportunities for seniors and for players around the country in the NCAA to go display their talents. I’m very, very excited.”

On when he heard of the invitation and his reaction:
“I heard last week probably last Tuesday or Wednesday that I had been invited and I was just really excited. I was humbled and just – I was actually ready to play the next day. I was like `man, I wish I didn’t have to wait a week.’ I was really eager and I had been working really hard ever since the season has been over. I’ve been in Boston the past two and a half weeks training and it’s been going really, really well. And just trying to get out, trying to get every opportunity I have to just be able to seize each opportunity and kind of go into this thing full blast. I’m just ready to roll.”
 

On what he needs to do to show pro scouts he is an pro player:
“Honestly I think competing and winning. I think, in a camp like this, showing them the best score, or showing that I can jump the highest or do all these different things, I don’t think that’s what the NBA scouts or the overseas scouts are looking for. They’re looking for winners. They’re looking for people to help their team in any situation. They’re not looking for Carmello Anthony or LeBron James. There’s very seldom few if any at all, that’s not the majority. We’re the 90 percent players, the players who help teams win in different ways. I don’t think there are going to be any certain players going into the game averaging 30 a game or they hoist the MVP trophy. You never know. Obviously, work and different things can happen over time. I’m definitely not discrediting that, but at the same time you have to understand the best way for me at least is to go win and compete and do what I’m best at and I’m not going to stray far from that.”
On what he has to offer an professional team:
“The way I’ve improved my game has been a little different this year. I’m getting better at my strengths, which getting to the basket and finishing, making plays for others, rebounding and defense and my free throw shooting which has obviously come a long way, shooting in the mid 80’s. That’s really what I’ve been working very hard on the past two weeks and being a true point guard, which is my natural position, which me and my dad have been going over quite frequently the past two weeks. I get to the gym about 9:30 or 10 every morning and I don’t leave until about 2:30 or 3 between doing strength and conditioning there usually to start and then I finish up about two and a half or three hours of playing basketball and playing various games, so it’s definitely been a different experience basketball-wise. I’ve been having a stretching coach stretching my body and really getting my body to feel better and getting more flexible and just getting the routines switched up more than I ever have so it’s been really good for me. ”

On his father’s advice:
“He tells me to do what I know and play my game. You don’t need to show anybody what you can’t do or try to prove to them that you can do something, just play your game. You’ll get caught up in having to follow, everybody’s watching me and I have to play this way or I have to show them that I’m a great player. Don’t even worry about that. Go out there, enjoy basketball, compete and win and everything else will take care of itself. And I know he’s been there, he’s done it all, so I trust him more than anything and that’s what I plan on doing. I’m taking his advice and I’m going with it.”