Lakers News: Austin Reaves To Face Off Against Ex-LA Teammate In FIBA Semis

Your Los Angeles Lakers were a close-knit unit last season after the trade deadline. They developed chemistry almost instantly, and it led to them making a run to the Western Conference Finals.

It’s a big reason why the team prioritized continuity this offseason rather than going star-hunting like in previous years.

One of those relationships came from Lakers guard Austin Reaves and former Laker point guard Dennis Schroder. The two were pretty close during their time in Los Angeles together, and now they will get the chance to face off against one another in the semifinals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The United States and Germany will play each other this Friday after Germany completed a big comeback over Latvia. Tip-off for the game is set for 5:40 a.m. PT, so it will be an early watch for the West Coast once again.

The @FIBAWC semis are set:

USA vs. Germany

Canada vs. Serbia

Germany and Serbia clinch Europe's two automatic Olympic berths to join the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Sudan in Paris along with host France.

Last four Olympic teams decided in qualifying next summer.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 6, 2023

Team USA is the favorite to win this game, but Germany is the last remaining undefeated team in the tournament, so they can’t be taken lightly.

Team USA is going to need to pull together once again and play as a team to win this matchup. Germany won’t back down and will throw everything they have at the Americans.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and Schroder headline the German roster, and both would love nothing more than to spoil Team USA’s day.

Whenever international play comes into the picture, players who normally wouldn’t lead a team start to hold a chip on their back. It means more to them, so Team USA will need to not take them for granted.

Team USA can lock their spot up in the Finals of the World Cup with a victory, so everything they have worked for is on the line. This is their chance to put themselves in a spot to win it all.

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