“Tears in my eyes” – Former Lakers star pays tribute to Austin Reaves for INCREDIBLE gesture after team USA’s embarrassing performance

Heartfelt exchange between former Lakers teammates grabs spotlight at FIBA World Cup.

“Tears in my eyes” – Former Lakers star pays tribute to Austin Reaves for INCREDIBLE gesture after team USA’s embarrassing performance

Austin Reaves (15) celebrates his 3-pointer with guard Dennis Schroder (17) during their time together at Lakers (Via Imago)

At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a warm and touching moment between two old friends and former teammates caught everyone’s attention. Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves, who used to play together for the Los Angeles Lakers, reconnected during the semifinals, but this time, they were on opposite teams.

In the semifinals of the World Cup, the match between Germany and the USA was very close and exciting. For the first time ever, Germany won against a team from the USA in a big tournament like this. Dennis Schroder, played a pivotal role in Germany’s victory, scoring 17 points and providing nine assists.

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After the game, Schroder and Reaves met up and shared a warm hug, showing that their friendship is still strong. Schroder even posted a video of their meet up on Instagram, where he praised Reaves not only as a great player but also as a really nice person. Schroder believes that Reaves has a bright future ahead, with many more achievements to come in his basketball career.

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In the Instagram post, Dennis Schroder wrote the following heartfelt message to Austin Reaves. “Gives me tears in the eyes seeing you in front of our locker room after the game,” Schroder wrote. “Still going thru the pain bc i know how big of a winner you are!! You are a bad man on the court & off the court you are one of the most genuine persons Brodie .. that’s why the world loves you! Stay that way & whatever the MAX is in 4 years, that’s what you gonna get … #RESPECT AR15.”

Related: Lakers star Austin Reaves reveals former teammate tried to recruit him to SURPRISE team during breakout season

Bright futures ahead for Schroder and Reaves

Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves
Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves (Via Open Source)

This touching reunion was not just a chance for old friends to catch up, but it also showed how both players have grown since their time together at the Lakers. Schroder, who will now play for the Toronto Raptors, showed that he can be a good leader for his team.

Reaves, who is still with the Lakers, also showed that he is becoming a better player, with skills that promise a successful career ahead. As both players step into the new season, they carry forward the hopes and expectations of their respective teams.

The World Cup isn’t over yet, and Germany is now getting ready to play against Serbia for the championship title. The USA team, who were expected to win the tournament, will now play against Canada, hoping to secure third place.

As both teams get ready for their next matches, the emotional exchange between Reaves and Schroder stands as a proof to the deep bonds formed on and off the court, reflecting the true spirit of sportsmanship in the world of basketball.

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