Rockets' Austin Rivers, Michael Carter-Williams revisit AAU rivalry

Rockets' Austin Rivers, Michael Carter-Williams revisit AAU rivalry

On the second day with Austin Rivers in the Rockets' locker room, a dispute about the shared past with a new teammate erupted. The Rockets got over it, the way much older athletes do when trading stories of glory days long before. Rivers and Michael Carter-Williams played against one another in their AAU years. On that much they agree. Who won was disputed. "I know we won, BABC won," Carter-Williams said. "We beat Austin in the Peach Jam. He might not remember because he doesn't remember taking many losses. I remember we won for sure, because we went to the Final Four. I think we both played pretty well. I can't remember." Rivers remembered how Carter-Williams played better than Carter-Williams did. He did not remember other parts of the game quite the same way. "They did not win," Rivers said. "They did not beat us." "Oh my goodness," Carter-Williams exclaimed, hearing Rivers' recollection. "I knew he was going to lie. I knew it." GAME RECAP: Rockets topple Thunder in Christmas clash "You don't remember the name of my team?" Rivers came back when Williams could not name E1T1. "Get out of here, bro. You know we had the best team that year." "The only team we lost to was Ohio Red," said Carter-Williams. "That's the only team that beat us. I didn't play you after B-Knight left." Rivers, however, did recall details. He cited the play of Thunder center Nerlens Noel. And he remembered being impressed with the play of his new, and then far less heralded, teammate. "Nerlens blocked everything," Rivers said. "Nerlens was a freak. I didn't know who Mike was, man. He did get off, though. He had a cool 30. I do remember that. He was busting us. I was like, 'Who is this dude?'" Brandon Knight, who was one of the nation's most celebrated recruits the previous season, shared a backcourt with Carter-Williams, but was already gone by the time they played against Rivers' team. "The way our team was formed, me and Brandon just shot every time," Carter-Williams said. "That worked out well. Brandon was incredible, the No. 1 player. "It happens a lot. Different guys you played with or against in high school. Even tonight (with the Rockets facing the Thunder), I played with Nerlens in high school and in AAU, he was on my team. In college, I played with Jerami Grant."