Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves told NBA reporters after Team USA beat New Zealand to open the 2023 FIBA World Cup that it means a lot to him to receive loud ovations from fans in the Philippines.
“I was one of those kids watching the World Cup [and] the Olympics, so every day I wake up and cherish those moments,” Reaves said, via Brian Windhorst of ESPN. “I’m from a super small town, and not a lot of people expected me to be here representing our country. So for the [crowds] to accept me the way that they accept me, it means a lot to me.”
Team USA beat New Zealand by a final score of 99-72. Reaves finished with 12 points, six assists and three steals while registering a plus-minus of +19.
Reaves is arguably the third-best player on the Lakers behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Over the last two NBA seasons, the Lakers are 13-26 without Reaves in the lineup and 63-62 when the guard plays.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, FIBA World Cup & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In addition, the Lakers are three points better defensively with Reaves on the court. The Oklahoma product, who is an undrafted player, averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season for the Lakers while shooting 52.9% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the free-throw line.
The 25-year-old Reaves took his game to another level in the 2023 postseason, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. The Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, but Los Angeles is expected to compete for the title again next season.
Reaves signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Lakers in restricted free agency. He has career NBA averages of 10.2 points and 2.6 assists with the Lakers. Reaves developed a good rapport with LeBron and Davis last season and it sounds like the Lakers are going to put the ball in his hands more often next season, as according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Los Angeles plans on running more of its offense through Reaves moving forward.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves, FIBA World Cup & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“The Lakers plan on running more of their offense through Reaves next season, unlocking the point guard skills he’s flashed through his first two years in the league, according to team sources not authorized to speak publicly,” Buha wrote.
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