“It has been awesome,’’ said Doc.
Austin Rivers, 19, the leading scorer for the seventh-ranked Blue Devils at 15.6 points per game, has no recollection of his Garden debut. He was born in August of Doc’s first year in New York, and he says his father is confusing him with his older brother Jeremiah, who is now playing professional basketball in Croatia.
But there’s no mistaking the joy the Celtics coach felt when Austin tallied a team-high 18 points in the world’s most famous arena in a win over the University of Washington earlier this month.
“I thought it was cool,’’ said Doc, who watched that game on television because the NBA lockout had ended, though he was able to make it to the Garden for a game against Michigan State in November.
Sitting in the stands as a sweaty-palmed parent was a thrill, but in some ways it was tougher than being a coach.
“I was nervous and excited,’’ said Doc.
Austin said the end of the lockout was bittersweet for him because he won’t have the luxury of seeing his dad in the stands.
“That’s something that never really happened before because of his job,’’ he said.
Doc spent so much time with his son this year that when the lockout finally ended, Austin tweeted, “Now my Dad can go back to work and stop eating all the food in my dorm.’’
The two are very close.
“He’s a great father - I don’t view him as a coach,’’ Austin said. “He gives me advice as a person and as a basketball player, and I’ve learned a lot from him and my mom.’’
Though Austin was rated the top high school prospect by several outlets, critics have argued that he is a reckless, selfish player who doesn’t rebound or play enough defense.
But he says he is all about team.
“My goal is to win a national championship,’’ he said.
When he arrived at Duke, Rivers chose No. 0 for his uniform number “because I have ice water in my veins.’’
And he thrives on the trash talk.
“Hate equals motivation,’’ he said. “Five years ago, I was known as Doc Rivers’s son, and now I’m known as my own person, and that’s through hard work.’’
His game is growing
