Steve Kerr will be coaching Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. One of the players he selected for his squad was Los Angeles Lakers star, Austin Reaves.
Reaves had a major coming out party last year. Not only did he shine off the court, but he emerged as a major icon off it as well.
Nothing speaks to Reaves’ immense popularity more than how viral his intimate photos with his girlfriend went earlier this month.
The man is a legit celebrity at this juncture.
In a conversation with the media, Kerr explained recently why he wanted Reaves on the 2023 FIBA World Cup roster.
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
“After watching him kick our butt for six straight games in the Western Conference semis, it was a pretty easy choice,” Kerr said.
“Austin is one of the rising young players in this league. What you look for in FIBA is versatility. You want size defensively and 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.”
The really funny part about that is that out of all the rounds he participated in throughout this year’s playoffs, Reaves put up his worst numbers against Golden State.
Reaves’ 14.3 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting and three assists against the Warriors were down from the 16.9 points and 4.6 assists he put up over the course of the entire postseason.
Nevertheless, for his performance in the playoffs, Reaves was rewarded with a four-year, $54 million extension by the Lakers earlier this month.
This isn’t the first time in recent years that Kerr has fancied a Lakers role player.
What an offseason for the Houston Texans. https://t.co/EYtmTX3pO7
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 12, 2023
It has become something of a pattern.
Will Reaves ultimately reward Kerr’s confidence in him by playing at a high level in the 2023 FIBA World Cup? Time will tell.
Related: Vanessa Bryant’s Vacation Photos With Pau Gasol Go Viral
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
