• LeBron James reacted to Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder embracing at the FIBA World Cup
• James was happy to see his Lakers teammates from last season share that moment
• Schroder left the Lakers this summer to sign with the Raptors, while Reaves re-signed
Team USA has had a pretty rough summer, failing to win a medal at the FIBA World Cup. They lost to Germany in the semifinals, where USA guard Austin Reaves reunited with his former Lakers teammate Dennis Schroder on the German side. Schroder shared a video of their interaction.
The same was reposted by James, expressing his love for two of the starters on their run to the Western Conference Finals.
“My dawgs! Love you boys!!!”
Schroder went on to win FIBA World Cup MVP for leading Germany to the Gold medal, beating the likes of the USA, Slovenia, Australia, Serbia, and others on their path to the Gold. He averaged 19.1 points and 6.1 assists for the tournament.
Reaves was making big noise at the start of the tournament but cooled off significantly in the latter rounds. He averaged 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists for the tournament, as Team USA failed to win a medal with a loss to Canada in the bronze medal game.
The Lakers Will Miss Dennis Schroder’s Intensity
The Lakers saw Schroder accept a $13 million-per-year offer from the Toronto Raptors and leave the franchise. He joined last season on a minimum contract and was one of the Lakers’ most dependable players all season, averaging 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He was a great defensive fit with his activity and a complementary point guard next to LeBron, though his inconsistency frustrated Lakers fans.
Gabe Vincent is coming in for the full non-tax mid-level of around $11 million, implying the Raptors had to beat the max of what the Lakers could offer Schroder. While Vincent had some great playoff moments, he isn’t as proven in the NBA as Schroder. His defensive versatility will at least keep the Lakers’ defense-heavy mindset alive, so he could be a great replacement for what Schroder provided.
LeBron James Looking To Become A Champion In Year 21
The fact that LeBron is in the position to lead a championship team in Year 21 is a testament to his incredible dedication to the game and his longevity. The Lakers are in a prime position to contend for the 2024 NBA title, especially with their latest addition of Christian Wood.
Unlike how they’ve operated in the LeBron era, the Lakers decided to not hunt for a third star next to LeBron and Anthony Davis, instead maximizing the depth on the roster. With a 12-man roster that would be very competitive and talented youngsters towards the end of the roster, they have put together a fantastic combination of veterans and young stars to push for the title as soon as possible.
James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists last season. He will hope to provide a similar level of scoring, but it may be best if he uses the offensive weapons around him and starts running point like he did in their championship-winning 2020 season.
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