Austin Reaves has had a meteoric rise over the last two years, going from not being picked in the 2021 NBA Draft to becoming a key contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023.
His exploits this past season also landed him a spot on Team USA for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup. When head coach Steve Kerr was asked about Reaves’ inclusion, he hilariously stated it was an easy choice.
“For me, after watching him kick our butt for six straight games in the Western Conference Semis, it was a pretty easy choice,” Kerr told Khobi Price. “I think Austin is one of the rising young players in this league.
“What you look for in FIBA is versatility,” Kerr continued. “You want size defensively, the ability to switch and guard multiple positions, and then 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.
“His story is pretty amazing given that he was undrafted two years ago,” Kerr added. “And now, here he is, playing for Team USA and being one of the Lakers’ top-three players, but it’s not an accident. This guy can play, and we have no doubt that he’s going to make a big impact for our team in the Philippines.”
Asked USA Basketball men's national team head coach Steve Kerr and managing director Grant Hill about identifying Lakers guard Austin Reaves for the 12-player Team USA roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Steve called Austin "one of the rising young players in [the NBA]". pic.twitter.com/ZJM512pFCR
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) July 7, 2023
In that playoff series between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, Reaves averaged 14.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 0.7 SPG as he helped close out the defending champions in six games.
He showed he wasn’t just some flash in the pan and could actually be a key piece on a contending team. The Lakers were so impressed by Reaves that they made re-signing him a priority and managed to bring him back on a four-year, $56 million deal.
Darvin Ham Believes Austin Reaves Will Soon Be An All-Star
The Lakers view Reaves in such high regard that head coach Darvin Ham believes he will be an All-Star very soon. Reaves finished that 2023 playoff run with averages of 16.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.2 BPG while shooting 46.4% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc.
You’d certainly expect him to keep improving, but becoming an All-Star would need him to take a significant leap in the coming years. The Lakers are going to give Reaves every chance to shine, as they reportedly plan on running more of their offense through him next season.
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