Austin Rivers Plans to Be Ready For Training Camp


New Orleans Hornets guard Austin Rivers, who underwent ankle surgery three weeks ago, says he’s on schedule to be fully healed when training camp arrives. The 6-4 guard averaged 10 points and 3.5 assists in two Summer League games before suffering his ankle injury. Via NOLA.com: “‘I’m doing great actually now, so I’ll be back very soon,’ Rivers said Tuesday by telephone from New York where he participated in the NBA’s rookie transition program. ‘It’s got a lot better and I actually got even stronger than I think I was before I got hurt.’ Rivers continues to do most of his rehabilitation work in Winter Park, Fla., his hometown, but said he plans to return to New Orleans soon to resume work. Rivers, 6 feet 4, 200 pounds, is expected to get substantial work at point guard in training camp although his natural position is shooting guard. ‘I feel I have got more comfortable after each stage,’ Rivers said. ‘But I won’t feel totally comfortable until after I play my first regular-season game. I’ll get more comfortable and confident in training camp. It’s really going to come down to those first week of games before you realize what you need to do and then try to come out full blast from there whether you play good or not.'”