Ramón Rivas

Ramón Rivas
Personal information
Born	March 16, 1966 (age 58); Power forward / center
Number	45
Career history
1988–1989	Boston Celtics
1989–1996	Taugrés
1996–1997	FC Barcelona
1997–1998	AEK
1998	Cáceres
1998–1999	Zara Imballaggi Fabriano
Career highlights and awards
	Spanish League champion (1997); Spanish Cup winner (1995); FIBA Saporta Cup champion (1996); FIBA Saporta Cup Finals MVP (1996); BSN Most Valuable Player (1989); BSN Rookie of the Year (1984);
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Juan Ramón Rivas Contreras (born March 16, 1966

Puerto Rican National Superior League (BSN), with the Carolina Giants

.

Rivas also played internationally, in Spain, Greece, and Italy. Rivas was also a member of the senior

Puerto Rican National Basketball Team for several years. He represented Puerto Rico at the following tournaments: the 1986 FIBA World Championship, in Málaga, Spain; the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, in Seoul, South Korea; the 1990 FIBA World Championship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, in Barcelona, Spain; and the 1996 Summer Olympics

, in Atlanta, United States.

Biography

Early years

As a youngster, Rivas played at The San Juan

High School's team. Flor Melendez took note of his progress, and signed him to play for the Carolina Giants, of Puerto Rico's top-tier level league, the BSN

. That year he was selected BSN Rookie of the Year.

The changes on the Carolina Giants were evident, when Rivas joined the team: From being one of the worst teams in the league, during the 1983 tournament, they got better every year. In 1987, the team almost reached the BSN playoffs, and, in 1988, the team finally reached the BSN playoffs, for the first time, having the best record in the regular season (1989 Regular Season: PPG.24.4, Reb.17.4 in 30 games).

College career

Rivas attended

NCAA. He became well-known in the United States, as a center

who could score points, and rebound in double figures, and was a respected player among his peers.

Professional career

Signed by the NBA

Thanks to his notable

José Ortiz's signing by the Utah Jazz two weeks prior, Rivas' signing by the Celtics was a cause of great celebration for Puerto Ricans, many of whom felt their efforts in basketball were finally being recognized by the NBA

.

With the Celtics, Rivas had the opportunity to share playing time alongside

Washington Bullets by two games, for the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA east that year, but were swept in three games, by the eventual champion Detroit Pistons

, in the playoffs' first round.

Because of his height, Rivas had to change playing positions when he arrived to the Celtics, going from playing

power forward

in Boston.

After that season with the Celtics, he came back to Puerto Rico, and received his first Puerto Rican League MVP honor, while playing for the Carolina Giants. That summer, he was signed by a basketball club in Spain, called Taugrés, which became his home for the next 7 years.