Off Guard with Austin Rivers

Latest Episodes:

Lakers and Warriors Figuring Things Out! Plus, the Finals Matchup We Definitely Want to See. Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha talk through LeBron’s recent comments about being the “face of the league” and discuss the responsibilities and consequences involved (16:21). Then, they reflect on what it was like to be in the building for Steph’s insane performance in Orlando against the Magic (29:14), before hitting on both the Warriors’ apparent revitalized season with Jimmy and the Lakers’ with Luka.

Later, they discuss which matchup they’d like to see in the Finals (32:42), and how disappointing the Suns have been this season (38:18), before Austin shares his recent pet peeve with a conversation about the media’s pressure on the league and its players (52:56)!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghghi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

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WTF Happened to Hoops Culture? Plus, Luka’s Revenge and OKC Concerns. Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha start off by reacting to two of the most recent box office matchups. First, they talk Lakers-Mavs and dissect the insane performances by Luka, Austin Reaves, and especially Kyrie (3:36). Then, they talk Thunder-Timberwolves and the Wolves’ playoff potential after they picked up an epic win against the best team in the West. They also revisit the consistent concerns surrounding the Thunder's chances in the playoffs (27:47). Plus, a conversation comparing college ball to the NBA, and Austin shares which NBA player top high school recruit Darryn Peterson reminds him of (41:40)!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contenders or Pretenders: Where Does Your Team Land? Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha run through brackets of teams that fall into the ranks of either legitimate contenders or probable pretenders (5:45)! They also answer whether they’d take Evan Mobley's or Chet Holmgren’s career (26:18), where the Bucks, Warriors, and Lakers land after their big trades (32:05), and what category the Grizzlies and Pacers fall into (44:57).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wemby Out for the Season and the Missing Piece of NBA All-Star Weekend Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha react to the unfortunate news that Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of the season (1:12). Then, they jump into Bobby Portis Jr.'s 25-game suspension and discuss the opportunity it poses for Kyle Kuzma (5:25). Finally, they recap a disappointing All-Star Weekend and break down the less-is-more solution to the weekend (23:50)!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Austin’s Plea to Ant-Man, SGA, and Wemby. Plus, Talking Through Kevin Durant’s Legacy. Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha are back ahead of All-Star Weekend to break down their thoughts on how to fix the game. But first, they revisit the end of the Warriors’ honeymoon phase and the Lakers’ play with Luka (7:36). Then, they briefly discuss Brunson and KAT’s dynamic and share who they believe are the best “Robins” to their teams' “Batmans” (16:18).

Then, they jump right into All-Star Game talk and discuss how it compares to the Hoop Summit and McDonald’s Game (24:12). Austin then addresses the responsibility that young stars like Anthony Edwards, SGA, and Wemby have to make the game both competitive and electric (27:35).

Later, they give KD his flowers and talk through his legacy after he hit the 30,000-point milestone (43:51).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jimmy and Steph Honeymoon, Austin Reaves’s Importance, and Is a Rebuild Loading for the 76ers? Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha quickly share their takeaways from the Super Bowl and discuss how it compares to the Luka-AD trade (1:05). Then, they hit on Austin Reaves’s career-high 45-point game and discuss where he ranks among other guards in the league and his importance to the Lakers (16:04).

Later, they react to Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry’s honeymoon-like period during Butler’s debut with the Warriors (29:02). Then, they discuss the Bucks’ promising win over the 76ers (41:12), and revisit how Cooper Flagg is playing at Duke (48:26).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warriors Win Jimmy Trade, Suns in Shambles, and Why Is Cam Johnson Still a Net? Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha are back with reactions to the wildest trade deadline ever! They kick things off by discussing Cam Johnson staying put in Brooklyn, hit on why the Warriors won the Jimmy Butler trade in a landslide, and talk through the Suns-KD catastrophe that leaves them in an incredibly awkward position.

Then, they break down which teams won the trade deadline, from the Bucks to the Lakers and more!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Luka to L.A. Makes No Sense and Immediate Reactions to De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha are in emergency pod mode! First, they react to the absolute monster of a trade that lands Luka Doncic in L.A. and Anthony Davis in Dallas. They unpack the deal from all sides and explain why the trade makes no sense across the board.

Then, they offer their immediate thoughts on the second blockbuster trade of the weekend, which sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings.

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trae Young Gets “Traed,” Tyler Herro Gets His Flowers, and More All-Star Reserves Reactions Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha are back to run through the 2025 All-Star reserves list. They share the biggest snubs, the coaches' approach to choosing the roster, and which players are most deserving.

Plus, they touch on the trade rumors about De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and then shout out Isaiah Thomas for his G League play.

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wemby Takes Paris, Team Rivalries, and All-Star Starters Takeaways Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Austin and Pausha hit on some football talk and share which rivalries in the NBA compare to Bills-Chiefs (1:02). Then, they dive into the announced All-Star starters and discuss LaMelo not making the list, plus which players could be named reserves (8:24).

Later, they discuss the games in Paris and highlight the almost-crowned Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Wembanyama (18:24), before Austin shares his experiences playing abroad. Then, they touch on another trade deadline conversation surrounding AD and the Lakers (25:50), before wrapping up with a brief discussion on season awards (42:34).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.