Emerging Los Angeles Lakers stud Austin Reaves is officially on the Team USA roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup after committing to the squad a few weeks ago.
For head coach Steve Kerr, it was a no-brainer to have the undrafted guard on his team.
Via Daily Bulletin:
“For me, after watching him kick our butt for six straight games in the Western Conference [semifinals], it was a pretty easy choice,” Kerr quipped during a Zoom call with reporters Friday.
After a 2022-23 regular season in which he seemed to get better as time went on, Reaves was a gem in his first postseason. He averaged 16.9 points and 4.6 assists a game while shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range in 16 playoff games, and against Kerr’s Golden State Warriors in the second round, he made an outstanding 45.2 percent of his attempts from downtown.
Kerr wasted no time praising Reaves’ skill sets, which he saw up close and personal during the playoffs just weeks ago.
“Austin is one of the rising young players in this league,” Kerr said. “What you look for in FIBA is versatility. You want size defensively, the ability to switch and guard multiple positions and you want playmaking. You want guys who can make shots but also put the ball on the floor and are good passers. Austin is just, to me, he’s a basketball player. He’s a guy who impacts winning at a really high level.”
After what they have done in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to have placed an emphasis on the versatility Kerr mentioned. Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and possibly Max Christie and Taurean Prince are all players that can convert in catch-and-shoot situations while also making good things happen off the dribble.
