Austin Reaves has earned recognition alongside his Los Angeles Lakers teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a finalist for Team USA’s men’s basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as revealed on Tuesday afternoon. Expressing his gratitude, Reaves stated he was “super excited” and felt “blessed” to be considered during Lakers shootaround.

The inclusion of Reaves comes as little surprise, given his standout performance for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Reaves emerged as a key contributor on the star-studded roster, showcasing his scoring prowess by averaging 13.8 points on an impressive 57% shooting, with a remarkable 50% accuracy from beyond the arc, all while logging 21.7 minutes per game off the bench.

Reflecting on his experience at the FIBA World Cup, Reaves described it as “one of the best experiences of my life,” despite the team’s fourth-place finish. This performance prompted the 39-year-old LeBron James to express his interest in competing at the 2024 Olympic Games during the Lakers’ media day in October.

LeBron’s interest in participating in the Olympics was reiterated, albeit with some consideration for his physical condition. He stated, “I do have an interest, so we’ll see what happens. But as far as the physical toll, I don’t know. I’ll see how I feel at the end of the season.” LeBron also noted that with the talented players available, he wouldn’t necessarily have to shoulder a significant burden on the court.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis expressed uncertainty regarding his potential participation in the Paris Olympics, stating that he had “no idea” whether he would be part of the roster. As the Olympics draw nearer, the final composition of Team USA’s basketball squad remains a topic of speculation, with players like Austin Reaves poised to make a significant impact should they earn a spot on the coveted roster.