2023-09-08 06:17:10
They might even have both worn the jersey of Germany, since Reaves, whose grandmother is German – “but (he does not know) from which corner” – and brother Spencer plays in Bamberg, thought regarding it a moment.
“Dennis asked me, last season, if it was possible for me to play for Germany. I told him that I was open to the idea, but that I was not planning to play this summer (for a selection ) because I wanted to take a break following the NBA season,” Reaves told reporters Thursday.
Since these exchanges in Los Angeles, the situation has changed a lot: the back was one of the revelations of the season, in a role of Swiss army knife (13 pts at 40% long distance, 3 rebounds and 3.4 assists decisive on average in the regular season) particularly effective for the Californian franchise in the play-offs (16.9 pts at 44% long distance, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 pd).
“Motivation increased”
Thanks to this successful second season, he extended his contract for four years at the Lakers and opened the doors to Team USA, responsible for bringing back the world title following elimination in the quarterfinals in 2019.
“When the opportunity to play for Team USA presented itself, Dennis was the first person I messaged: ‘I can’t say no. He was very understanding, then congratulated me,” explained Reaves (25 years old, 1.96 m).
The American fullback sees Schröder (29, 1.85m), who will play for the Toronto Raptors this season following just one year at the Lakers, as “a friend, a teammate and a brother: I have a lot of love and respect for Dennis, I know his children, his wife.”
And, with the Mannschaft jersey, a player who “gives confidence to his partners”, whose “motivation is increased tenfold”.
Schröder expected around the corner
For Schröder, Reaves is “his guy, a guy I have a lot of love for”, and representing his country gives him “an incomparable feeling”.
“I’ve been playing in the NBA for 10 years: my matches are always at 2 or 3 in the morning in Germany, so not everyone can see them. In the national team, the fans see me and come to support us” , he explained on Wednesday following the quarter-final once morest Latvia (81-79).
“Probably the worst match of my career” he admitted: 9 points scored at 4/26 shooting for an overall rating of -10.
“I’m giving everything for the team to win, today (Wednesday) as before or in the upcoming semi-final. I’m not going to change my routine. It’s going to be nice,” added the point guard, top scorer in the German competition (18 pts on average), present in the last four for the first time since 2002.
His coach, Gordon Herbert, is convinced that Schröder, with whom he had an altercation during a timeout in the second round once morest Slovenia, “will bounce back”.
“He’s a great kid, tough and competitive,” he argued.
For American captain Jalen Brunson, one of the keys on Friday will be to muzzle Schröder, “Germany’s master, capable of doing what he wants when he wants”.
Reaves should once once more receive a standing ovation from the Mall of Asia Arena, of which he is one of the darlings. “Wherever I go here, I get a lot of love. It’s unbelievable, unreal for a kid, like me, from an Arkansas town lost in the middle of nowhere.”
nk/bm
Basketball World Cup: USA-Germany, mixed destinies for Reaves and Schröder
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