David Rivers
Encyclopedia
David Lee Rivers is a retired American
basketball
player. An explosive point guard, he reached star status in the Euroleague
, mostly playing for Olympiacos Piraeus
under coach Dusan Ivkovic
.
Rivers grew up in Jersey City and played high school basketball under Bob Hurley
at powerhouse St. Anthony High School
.
.
He was the co-captain of the '87-88 squad. 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 spg), second in games started (116), fourth in assists average (5.0 apg) 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.
in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft
, receiving very little playing time in his rookie season. He had two more seasons of no impact with the other Los Angeles team, the Clippers
(1989–90 and 1991–92).
He also played successfully in Europe
(France
, Greece
, Italy
and Turkey
). In Greece, he played for Olympiacos Piraeus
winning the Euroleague
in 1997. This was the only time the Greek club has won the trophy, winning the triple crown
(Greek Cup
, Greek Championship
and Euroleague).
He showed remarkable form throughout the Euroleague averaging 17 pts, 3.4 assists, 2 steals and 37.9 minutes in 23 games. During the final four
in Rome
, Rivers almost single-handedly beat both Union Olimpija
in the semi final and FC Barcelona
in the final, scoring 28 and 26 points respectively.
In 1997 Rivers left Olympiacos to join Teamsystem Bologna
and played alongside former NBA all-star Dominique Wilkins
. He later played for Tofaş Bursa
in Turkey where he won two league championships and two cups before re-joining Olympiacos for one season. Despite his relatively average last season at Olympiacos that ended in his retirement, he is considered a legend for the fans.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. An explosive point guard, he reached star status in the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
, mostly playing for Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos BC
Olympiacos B.C. , also known simply as Olympiacos and Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful in Greece and a traditional powerhouse in European competitions...
under coach Dusan Ivkovic
Dušan Ivkovic
Dušan "Duda" Ivković is a Serbian former professional basketball player and current coach. In 2008, he was named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in Euroleague history....
.
Rivers grew up in Jersey City and played high school basketball under Bob Hurley
Bob Hurley
Robert Matthew "Bob" Hurley, Sr. is the basketball coach at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Hurley has amassed 26 state championships and more than 1000 wins in 39 years as a coach, creating a national powerhouse despite substandard facilities and financial limitations...
at powerhouse St. Anthony High School
St. Anthony High School (New Jersey)
St. Anthony High School is a four-year co-educational Roman Catholic high school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark...
.
College career
A third team All-American in 1986-87 and a second team selection in '87-88, he attended the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
He was the co-captain of the '87-88 squad. 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 spg), second in games started (116), fourth in assists average (5.0 apg) 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 career
Rivers was selected 25th overall by the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft
1988 NBA Draft
The 1988 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1988 in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Notable undrafted players:...
, receiving very little playing time in his rookie season. He had two more seasons of no impact with the other Los Angeles team, the Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(1989–90 and 1991–92).
He also played successfully in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). In Greece, he played for Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos BC
Olympiacos B.C. , also known simply as Olympiacos and Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful in Greece and a traditional powerhouse in European competitions...
winning the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
in 1997. This was the only time the Greek club has won the trophy, winning the triple crown
Triple Crown in Basketball
The Triple Crown is a term in European professional club basketball that refers to a club winning their country's top tier national domestic league, primary national domestic cup, and the top tier European continental level competition in the same season. It is the highest accomplishment that a...
(Greek Cup
Greek basketball Cup
The Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
, Greek Championship
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
and Euroleague).
He showed remarkable form throughout the Euroleague averaging 17 pts, 3.4 assists, 2 steals and 37.9 minutes in 23 games. During the final four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Rivers almost single-handedly beat both Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
in the semi final and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet, known as FC Barcelona Regal for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club. It is part of the FC Barcelona sports club and was founded on August 24, 1926 which makes it the oldest club in Liga ACB. The club competes in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto...
in the final, scoring 28 and 26 points respectively.
In 1997 Rivers left Olympiacos to join Teamsystem Bologna
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna is an Legadue Basket professional basketball club that is based in Bologna. It's currently sponsored by Conad.-History:...
and played alongside former NBA all-star Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
. He later played for Tofaş Bursa
Tofas S.K.
Tofaş Spor Kulübü known simply as Tofaş is a professional basketball team based in the city of Bursa in Turkey that plays in the Turkish Basketball League. Their home arena is the Bursa Atatürk Sport Hall with a capacity of 3,500 seats.The club sponsored by Tofaş Company...
in Turkey where he won two league championships and two cups before re-joining Olympiacos for one season. Despite his relatively average last season at Olympiacos that ended in his retirement, he is considered a legend for the fans.
External links
- Euroleague.net Profile
- NBA Stats @ Basketballreference.com