New Orleans Hornets rookie guard Austin Rivers "vowed to be ready" for the season opener Oct. 31 after suffering a right foot injury Monday night, according to The Times-Picayune.
Austin Rivers injury update: Hornets’ G expects to play in season opener
“It looks like it’s a right ankle sprain and we’re just going to go from there and keep trying to get better,” Rivers said. “I just kind of landed on my foot; my body landed on my own foot. It kind of felt funny. You learn. I went in there looking for contact and a call instead of just trying to make the shot. Usually when you look for contact you don’t get the call. You learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.”
Rivers landed awkwardly on his ankle in the second quarter of the Hornets' 87-74 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. He wore a walking boot out of the building Monday.
Rivers had bone chips removed from the same ankle over the summer, but he said it had nothing to do with the surgery.
The rookie out of Duke said he’s never had a sprained ankle before, and “I don’t think it’s anything too serious.”
“It’s just one of those everyday basketball ankle sprains,” he said. “I’ll be back.”
Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, is averaging 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in six preseason games with New Orleans. He is averaging about 27.5 minutes per game.
In his only season at Duke, as a freshman, Rivers averaged 15.5 points per game and 3.4 rebounds.
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