While Spencer Reaves made history with the MBC in Germany at the weekend, his brother Austin is facing setbacks in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers guard suffered an injury at the end of November, and it is uncertain when he will return.
Spencer led the SYNTAINICS MBC into the top four of the BBL Cup for the first time thanks to a strong performance. With 36 points, including nine threes, he was the dominant man in Weißenfeld’s 100-85 win over MLP Academics Heidelberg. The 28-year-old once again underlined his position as one of the best scorers in the league.
With nine threes and a 100% shooting percentage in the first seven minutes, he scored more points than the entire Heidelberg team. After a first half in which he already put 30 points on the Wolves’ account, Reaves took it a little easier in the second half – but his influence was still huge. Reaves’ career-best performance of 36 points also set a new record in the cup competition for the MBC, which continues to stir up the league with its mini-budget.
Austin Reaves: A pillar of strength for the Los Angeles Lakers
While Spencer is in the spotlight on the court, his brother Austin has been struggling in the NBA. The 26-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard sustained a bruised pelvis in a fall against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the end of November. Fortunately, a medical examination later gave the all-clear that there was no structural damage, but Austin is still out of action.
Austin, who continues to play a central role in LeBron James’s Lakers team, has already impressed with his performances so far this season. With 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 33.7 minutes of play, he has been one of the mainstays. The Lakers were hit hard by the loss of Reaves, managing only a 2-3 record in the last five games without him. However, after this disappointing phase, they managed an important victory against the Portland Trail Blazers and are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference.
Brotherly bond in different ways
Despite the geographical distance and the different challenges, the Reaves brothers remain close. Spencer talks to basketball-world.news about the time they spent together in high school: “That was the most fun time of my life. We would love to play on the same team again.” However, the 28-year-old would not be averse to a duel with his younger brother in the NBA either: ‘It would certainly be exciting to play against each other.’
But now they only meet in the summer, away from the basketball court. Instead of hard training sessions, the brothers and their families enjoy the rare moments together.
This family bond is also reflected in the mutual support they show each other. Spencer watches his brother’s NBA career with pride: “For me, it was incredible to see how quickly he rose. We all saw him in the NBA, but not so quickly on a legendary team like the Lakers.”
Austin Reaves: Team USA instead of Germany
At the same time, it was Spencer who once wanted to guide Austin to the German national team – a plan that fell through when Team USA called. “For him it was a no-brainer. His personal connection to Germany just wasn’t strong enough.”
Spencer says his brother seriously considered it, “especially since he’s very good friends with Dennis Schröder.” Ultimately, the guard, with a German grandmother, chose team USA and thus against the subsequent world champion Germany.