Lakers: Austin Reaves Agrees With Kobe Bryant, Victor Wembanyama About International Basketball

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Austin Reaves (#15) of the United States drives against Jordan Howard (#3) of Puerto Rico in the second half of a 2023 FIBA World Cup exhibition game at T-Mobile Arena on August 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The United States defeated Puerto Rico 117-74. (Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

NBA can claim to be the best basketball league in the world, but there is one thing that other leagues are better at - physicality.

The late Kobe Bryant once attested to this, saying that European game is more physical than the NBA.

San Antonio Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama said the same, explaining that players in the NBA are just flying, while in Europe, there is a lot of pushing and boxing out.

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The Los Angeles Lakers' budding star is the latest to highlight this difference after having a taste of international basketball with Team USA, which is currently preparing for the FIBA World Cup this month.

"It's a little more physical, he said in an interview with Hoops Hype.

"The continuation, what we would call goaltending, they don't call goaltending. It's just a couple of things you just kinda get used to. Overall, it's still basketball."

Reaves, who just re-signed with the Lakers after a breakout season, is part of a relatively young delegation that lacks superstars compared to the previous USA squad.

Reaves on what Team USA needs to improve

Team USA will come to the world tournament as the defending champions and ultimate favorite to win it all.

Are they ready with all the pressure?

Reaves said they are taking it day by day, but things are coming along each practice.

There's not much superstar in the team, which showed that many of them are passive during their scrimmages and friendlies.

Reaves said that it is being solved now.

"I mean the last couple days we might have possessions where we overpass," he said.

"The guys we have on our team, we feel really good about how they play. If the roles were flipped, we just swing-swing to the corner; you make that pass because the next time if you're fortunate, it could be a pass to you.

"So it's a good feeling knowing that we're ready to catch and shoot whenever, and with the talent that we have with that we could do really good things."

Related article: Gilbert Arenas Calls Team USA 'Sorry-A** Group' for Lacking Superstars

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