The Boston Celtics just won an NBA Championship. Every player on the roster will get a ring on their finger on Opening Night, cementing themselves in NBA history as one of the lucky guys who got over the hump and helped raise a banner in Boston. And while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led ythe charge, everyone on the team played a part in the victory.
Kristaps Porzingis missed some time, but he came back and was huge for the Celtics in Game 1 of the Finals. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White had big-time moments throughout the postseason, and the same can be said for Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser.
But that didn’t save Hauser from being the target of a recent call-out. (H/t Gio Rivera of NESN)
Austin Reaves jokingly picks Sam Hauser to play 1v1
During a recent YouTube video on his own channel, Los Angeles Lakers wing Austin Reaves was playing a golf match against BustaJack, a YouTube duo that makes golf content. He was asked which NBA player he could beat in a 1v1, with no questions asked, and Hauser was his answer.
"I'll play Sam Hauser," Reaves said. "NBA champion, by the way. Congrats. He can shoot it."
Obviously, there was no harm intended with the response. It was simply a funny answer to a question that backed Reaves into a corner. And in his defense, the response makes some sense from a playing perspective.
Hauser plays almost exclusively off the ball, while Reaves is one of the Lakers’ primary ball-handlers. That alone would give him a massive advantage in a 1v1 scenario.
And for what it’s worth, Reaves also admitted that he would want to play anybody in a 1v1, even if he wouldn’t be the favorite.
"I'll play anybody 1-on-1,” said Reaves. “I'm not saying I'll win, but I'll play."
Throughout the course of the past year, Hauser has shown some ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays. He’s driven close-outs and made the extra pass a few times, even showing off his floater a bit.
But as a whole, Reaves is certainly the more polished shot-creator at this point in their respective careers. Him picking a guy who plays mostly off the ball was an easy decision.
That said, perhaps Hauser could surprise some people if he gets the chance to play the Lakers guard in a 1v1. It would never happen, as those types of matches are almost never publicized if they even happen at all. But it would certainly be fun to watch.