Lakers News: Why Expert Thinks Team USA Experience Will Grow Austin Reaves’ Game

The perfect opportunity for him!

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a number of their former players in Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart suiting up for Team USA next month in the 2023 FIBA World Cup but please do not forget that Austin Reaves will be a part of that mix as well. He'll have to find a role next to other elite guards in Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards but we should know at this point that he thrives next to other stars and does all the dirty work.

And seeing that the 25-year-old guard is coming off his best season yet and just inked a four-year deal worth $56 million, you definitely want to see him getting in as many reps as possible. Team USA won't start practicing and getting ready for the tournament until next month so Reaves has time to unwind and get his own offseason training before he has to report to this squad's camp.

Esteemed NBA insider Brian Windhorst had nothing but good things to say about Reaves getting the opportunity to suit up for his country and get a taste of international ball very soon.

"It will be terrific for Austin Reaves to be on Team USA," said Windhorst. "It's gonna be great for him. It's a who's who out of all of the young guards. It's not the A-List of the whole NBA. You got Haliburton, you got Anthony Edwards."

(Via Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective)

Expert Zach Lowe also chipped in on how he believes that Reaves will grow with Team USA.

"It'll make him a lot better just being a part of that group," said Lowe. "How many guys have we seen go be a part of Team USA and they come back and take a step forward after that summer playing against elite competition."

(Via Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective)

It will be exciting in general just to see Reaves playing basketball again and like I mentioned, a successful postseason & offseason should boost his confidence even more and even if he is not in the starting rotation, don't be surprised if he's finishing out games for Team USA.

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