Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has climbed swiftly in the team's pecking order as well as in his national profile in recent months.
That can be a double-edged sword, as Reaves discovered after his terrible performance with Team USA against Lithuania in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a 110-104 setback for the Americans.
Vaidas Kariniauskas, a Lithuanian player, was observed mocking Reaves after the game. Spencer Reaves spoke out in response to the outpouring of support.
Spencer Reaves, Reaves' brother, was later found to have given Kariniauskas the idea to taunt."
"People really had 'Austin Reaves sucks' tweets in the drafts just waiting for a bad game," Spencer Reaves wrote on September 4.
Reaves finished with seven points on 1-for-4 shooting, including 0-2 from beyond the arc.
He fouled out with zero rebounds and, perhaps unexpectedly, zero assists after receiving plaudits from head coach Steve Kerr for his passing ability and how it helped the offense.
Reaves was continually targeted and backed down on defense, prompting Kerr to bench him early in order to spare him.