USA's Austin Reaves on upset loss to Germany: 'It sucks'

Austin Reaves didn't mince his words when asked what it felt like to lose a game with a ticket to the 2023 FIBA World Cup finals at stake.

The Los Angeles Lakers standout said 'It sucks', especially with the likes of US basketball legends Carmelo Anthony and Sue Bird watching at the sidelines as the USA attempted to make it back to the gold medal round after missing it out in the previous edition.

"Anytime you lose, at least for me but I could probably speak for every guy in the locker room, it sucks," the 25-year-old gunner said after they absorbed a 113-111 loss to Germany to formally bow out of contention.

"As a competitor, losing is literally  the worst thing that could possibly happen."

Reaves, who finished with 21 points, said going up against Germany was not an easy task. The Germans swept their first round assignments against Australia, Japan, and Finland. The Germans then dominated Georgia and Slovenia in the second round for an unbeaten slate before heading to Manila for the final phase.

"Honestly, it's super tough. We knew the task at hand and that was to win and we didn't do that," Reaves added.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News