All the chatter about Chris Paul leaving the Clippers because of Austin Rivers was apparently too much for the coach’s son to deal with, so he took matters into his own hands. According to USA Today, Austin called CP3 directly to find out what the deal was. Rivers said:
I called Chris and was like, ‘Chris, what’s going on? Chris is like, ‘This is the biggest bull(expletive) I’ve ever seen in my life.’ Chris was just like, ‘This is a joke.’ So I asked him, I’m like, ‘You don’t need to come out and say nothing publicly, I don’t need you to do that. It’s just going to make it even more, now they’re going to drag it out two more days. I’ll take it. I don’t care. I’ve been dealing with this (dynamic) since I was six (years old). I really don’t even care.
Well, it kind of seems like Austin does care a bit. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again for those who seem to not get it. Regardless of the money these athletes make and their celebrity status, none of that shields them from real human emotions. They are not robots. Things do bother them. For someone like Austin, who already has to deal with people thinking he didn’t earn his spot in the league, it’s an even more tenuous situation.
Players’ reputations among their peers is very important, and being known by teammates and peers as the coach’s son or getting special treatment isn’t a good look. I don’t know if the reports we hear out of the Clippers’ locker room is true or not but Austin seemed to get the answer he was looking for from CP3. Going forward, all Austin can do is improve and play well. Fairly or not, he will always be seen as the coach’s son.