Lakers News: Austin Reaves' Team USA Qualifies For 2024 Olympics
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves and the rest of his Team USA squad have officially booked a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Because the United States became one of the top two-finishing countries in North or South America in this year's ongoing FIBA World Cup, they have (unsurprisingly, perhaps) locked down a spot in the world games.
A loaded Team Canada secured the second spot with a win over Spain on Sept. 3. Australia, France, Japan and South Sudan will also take part in the 12-team tournament. Two more European teams will qualify through the World Cup while the remaining four spots will be decided in a qualifying tournament next year.
Because many of the NBA's current stars did not decide to participate in the FIBA World Cup, the roster for the 2024 Olympics could look quite different.
While the World Cup is chock-full of talent, Reaves leads team USA in steals per game at 1.8. He is the second-highest scorer on the team, averaging 10.8 points per game. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves leads Team USA with 20.2 points per game.
Team USA has already earned a spot in the Olympics, but there is still plenty of World Cup basketball remaining.
Reaves has exploded onto the NBA scene and has quickly become an international star. The 25-year-old averaged 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and was a key part of the Lakers' postseason roster, averaging 36.2 minutes per game.
The Oklahoma product even inked a shoe deal with a Chinese shoe company over the summer.
The U.S. will take on Italy on Tuesday and remains the favorite to win the title despite losing to Lithuania on Sept. 3.
