NBA Draft: Top 25 one-and-done prospects of all-time

The Duke Blue Devils were once a team that didn’t embrace the one-and-done rule, but Coach K has adjusted to the new landscape quite nicely. One of his most prized one-and-done players was point guard Austin Rivers.

Rivers was quite the decorated Blue Devil by the end of his freshman season back in 2011-12. The son of Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers had managed to pave his own way as a college star, averaging 15.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game through 34 games for the Blue Devils.

Rivers is one of 11 Duke players to win the ACC Rookie of the Year award and the first in the one-and-done era. He was the first freshman since the 2007-08 season (Kyle Singler) to take home Rookie of the Year honors as well.

When he entered his name into the NBA Draft, he was taken as the 10th overall pick by the then-New Orleans Hornets. He’s had quite the journeyman career so far, appearing with New Orleans, the Clippers (2014-18), the Washington Wizards and the Houston Rockets. He was a key reserve for the Rockets as they made their run in the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

He’s managed to remain serviceable as a backup combo guard in the league thus far, averaging 9.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game through 484 career games. As his career continues, his contributions with Duke won’t be ignored, though others have come after him.