Austin Rivers Responds To Rumors That Chris Paul Left The Clippers Because Of Him

Earlier today, Chris Paul forced the Clippers to trade him because he told the team he was planning on joining the Houston Rockets. Since then it was reported that Paul wanted out because he was angry at Doc Rivers giving preferential treatment to his son Austin Rivers.

Via ESPN’s Michael Eaves

Paul’s relationship with Doc Rivers started to deteriorate rapidly after the Clippers acquired Austin Rivers. Several members of the team felt Austin acted entitled because his dad was both the coach and the President of Basketball Operations. In the view of the tenured players, Austin Rivers never tried to fit in, and when players tried to address the situation with him, he still did not respond the way the core of the team wanted him to. It led to resentment within the locker room, which often played out during games. One of Paul’s biggest contentions with Doc was that Paul, and other players, felt Doc treated Austin more favorably than other players. He would yell at guys for certain things during games and practices, but not get on Austin in the same manner for similar transgressions.

But what really solidified Paul’s dissatisfaction with Doc was a proposed trade involving Carmelo Anthony last season. New York offered Carmelo and Sasha Vujacic to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers, a deal to which Rivers ultimately said no. That event led Paul to feel that keeping his son on the roster was more important to Doc than improving the team. So, ultimately, Paul lost both trust and faith in Doc. As one league executive put it, “Chris despises Doc.”

Austin Rivers heard about the rumors and fired off this tweet in response.

I’m sure we’ll hear more revelations in the next coming days about what led to the departure of Chris Paul. Guess we’ll have to what until then to find out if these rumors are true or not.