Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder hug it out after competing against one another in tune-up games for the World Cup.
On Sunday, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder, two former teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, squared off against one another in an exhibition game at the FIBA World Cup. The United States of America, captained by Reaves, defeated Schroder’s German squad 99-91.
Reaves and Schroder embraced warmly after the game.
On Sunday, both Reaves and Schroder played quite well. Reaves led the United States with 16 points, while Schroder led Germany with 16 points and 10 assists.
Reaves, at 25 years old, has played in the NBA for two seasons, both of them with the legendary Los Angeles Lakers. During the 2022-23 season, he shot 52.9 percent from the floor and 39.8 percent from deep, good for a 13.0 ppg average and a.409 eFG%.
Schroder, 29, was the 17th overall choice in the 2013 NBA Draft. He has spent his 10 years in the league with the Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Boston Celtics, and the Houston Rockets. In 66 games played (2022–23 season) with 50 starts for the Lakers, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks.
In June, Schroder and the Toronto Raptors reached an agreement on a two-year, $26 million contract. Schroder, Malachi Flynn, Jeff Dowtin Jr., and youngster Markquis Nowell are the Raptors’ point guards. This may be the weakest point guard depth in the NBA. Former Raptors starting point guard Fred VanVleet signed a max contract with the Rockets worth $130 million over three years.
Schroder seems likely to be the starting point guard for the Raptors next season due to the team’s lack of depth at that position. After all, Schroder is the Raptors’ most decorated and seasoned point guard in the NBA. In the 2023-24 season and beyond, I hope Schroder does well as Toronto’s point guard.