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Austin Rivers aiming to be Most Improved Player, All-Defense

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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LA Clippers guard Austin Rivers has set himself some big goals for next season, with hopes to make an All-Defensive team and be the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

Austin Rivers made his mark with the LA Clippers last season thanks to his significantly improved defense. His motor ran faster and his intensity increased as he guarded opponents well inside and out, being a pest from three and consistently covering drives to the basket. It made him an integral part of the team’s improvement to 4th in the NBA in defensive efficiency after only ranking 15th in 2014-15, and that same effort will make Rivers’ role off the bench just as important next season.

While there will need to be improvements in other aspects of Rivers’ game as he looks to progress after receiving a new three-year, $35 million deal this summer, defense should be a guaranteed contribution Clippers fans can count on.

Dan Woike of the Orange County Register reported a comment from Rivers at the Clippers media day on Monday, revealing that Rivers has some lofty goals set for himself in 2016-17.

First, the Most Improved Player award. Second, making one of the NBA All-Defensive teams, hopefully following in the footsteps of the point guard currently starting ahead of him, Chris Paul. The Point God who’s made eight All-Defensive teams (six times as First Team) and led the NBA in steals six times.

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It won’t be easy by any means and there are plenty of other talented guards, but if Rivers has a chance to achieve one of his goals, making an All-Defensive team seams more likely. Whether he can take another leap forward to place himself among the likes of Tony Allen, Avery Bradley and Jimmy Butler, though, is a fairly tall order. But that drive from Rivers can only benefit his game. We saw what it did for his defense last season.

As for becoming the NBA’s Most Improved Player, a major offensive leap would be needed that I can’t realistically predict. Typically, the award goes to a young player who receives more minutes, a bigger role, and consequently receives a major boost to their statistics if they make the most of the opportunity. It’s hard to see that will be the case for Rivers.

This year’s winner, C.J. McCollum, went from 15.7 minutes and 6.8 points per game in 2014-15 to 34.8 minutes and 20.8 points last season. Rivers would surely need to hit around the 15 points per game mark (up from 8.9 last season) to catch the attention of voters to place him 1st.

That being said, with Austin Rivers’ defensive development and him shooting 39.6 percent from three from the start of January, continued improvement should be what the LA Clippers can expect.

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