David Rivers facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 20, 1965 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school | St. Anthony (Jersey City, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11.26 in) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Notre Dame (1984–1988) |
| NBA Draft | 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1988–2001 |
| Coaching career | 2014–2015 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1988–1989 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1989–1990 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1990–1991 | Tulsa Fast Breakers |
| 1991 | Memphis Rockers |
| 1991–1992 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1992–1993 | La Crosse Catbirds |
| 1993–1995 | Olympique Antibes |
| 1995–1997 | Olympiacos |
| 1997–1998 | Fortitudo Bologna |
| 1998–2000 | Tofaş |
| 2000–2001 | Olympiacos |
| 2003–2004 | Olympique Antibes |
| As coach: | |
| 2008 | Virtus Bologna (Academy) |
| 2014–2015 | Kennesaw State (associate HC) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
|
|
David Lee Rivers (born January 20, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He was a talented point guard, standing 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall. David Rivers became a star player in the EuroLeague, especially when he played for Olympiacos. He also played three seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Contents
Early Basketball Years
David Rivers grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He played high school basketball at St. Anthony High School. His coach there was Bob Hurley. David helped his team win three State Championships. He was also the first player from his school to be invited to the McDonald's All-American Game in 1984.
College Basketball Career
David Rivers earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. He played for coach Digger Phelps. As a freshman, he immediately became the starting point guard. In his second year, he helped his team reach the "Sweet 16" round in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
In August 1986, David was in a car accident. He was able to recover and play in 32 college games that season. This showed his amazing determination!
He was named his team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for four years in a row. He was also a team co-captain for three straight seasons. He earned All-American honors in 1987 and 1988.
David Rivers is one of the top players in Notre Dame's history. He ranks fourth in scoring with 2,058 points. He is also second in assists (586) and steals (201).
Professional Playing Career
Playing in the NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers picked David Rivers in the first round of the 1988 NBA draft. He was the 25th player chosen overall. In his first year, he played in 47 games for the Lakers. The team made it to the NBA Finals that season.
In 1989, David was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a special draft. However, he later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. He played 53 games for the Clippers, starting 11 of them.
After playing for the Clippers, David also played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He played for the Tulsa Fast Breakers and the La Crosse Catbirds. In 1992, he helped the La Crosse Catbirds win the CBA league title. He was named the MVP of the finals!
Playing in Europe
In 1993, David Rivers moved to Europe to play basketball. He joined Olympique Antibes in the French League. He played there for two seasons and helped them win the French Championship in 1995.
In 1995, he signed with Olympiacos in the Greek League. He helped them win the Greek title in 1996. The 1996–1997 season was incredible for David and Olympiacos. They won the Greek Basketball Cup, the Greek Basket League, and the EuroLeague championship! David was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP for his outstanding play. He was considered one of the best basketball players in Europe at this time. Olympiacos fans remember him as a legend.
After Olympiacos, David played for Teamsystem Bologna in Italy. He helped them win the Italian Basketball Cup. Then, he played for Tofaş in the Turkish League. There, he won two Turkish League championships and two Turkish Cups.
David returned to play for Olympiacos B.C. for another season in 2000. He later played for Olympique Antibes again in 2003. In 2013, he was honored by Olympique Antibes and had his jersey number retired.
Life After Playing
After his playing career, David Rivers became a coach. In 2009, he worked with Virtus Bologna in Italy, helping young players. From 2014 to 2015, he was an associate head coach for the Kennesaw State Owls. He also works as a director at basketball camps in Switzerland.
Career Achievements
Team Titles
- CBA Champion: 1 (with La Crosse Catbirds: 1991–92)
- French League Champion: 1 (with Olympique Antibes: 1994–95)
- Greek League Champion: 2 (with Olympiacos: 1995–96, 1996–97)
- Greek Cup Winner: 1 (with Olympiacos: 1996–97)
- EuroLeague Champion: 1 (with Olympiacos: 1996–97)
- Italian Cup Winner: 1 (with Fortitudo Bologna: 1997–98)
- Turkish League Champion: 2 (with Tofaş: 1998–99, 1999–00)
- Turkish Cup Winner: 2 (with Tofaş: 1998–99, 1999–00)
See also
In Spanish: David Rivers para niños
