Steve Kerr has spent his summer coaching Team USA as he tries to move past the Golden State Warriors‘ second-round playoff exit to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, it can’t be easy for Kerr to put that loss behind him, as he’s been working with Lakers guard Austin Reaves while with Team USA.
According to Reaves, who was speaking to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, Kerr has admitted that he’s ‘not really over’ Golden State’s loss to the LeBron James-led team. Nevertheless, Kerr did concede that he would rather be coaching Reaves than coaching against him.
Buy Warriors Tickets“Steve, basically, the first conversation we had was him being like, “You know, I’m still not really over what you and y’all did to us this postseason. But much rather be coaching you than coaching against you,” Reaves told Woike.
Reaves played in all six games of the Lakers playoff series win over Golden State, averaging 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 45.2% shooting from 3-point range and 41.8% shooting from the field.
Since teaming up with Team USA, Kerr has spoken glowingly of what Reaves brings to the table.
“He fits in wherever we put him, that’s the beauty of Austin,” Kerr said following a Team USA practice. “He’s a connector. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s physical, shoots and passes it. Just so poised out there all the time. He’s a guy who enhances any lineup that he plays with.”
Still, once the World Cup is over and Kerr is back with the Warriors, he will use his time with the budding star to ensure he knows how to shut him down if Golden State faces the Lakers in the postseason again.
