Austin Reaves Could The NBA's Next Rising Superstar
The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard is producing at a high level this season
When the Los Angeles Lakers make highlight reels, it’s mainly due to superstar LeBron James and newly acquired star point guard Luka Doncic.
As of late, however, they have been relying heavily on another player.
In March, Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves has produced at an elite level. With James playing in only nine games due to a groin injury, Reaves has been arguably the second-best player on the roster, behind Doncic. During March, he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.0 steals.
Reaves’ Interesting Journey
Before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft, Reaves played two years at Wichita State University and two years at the University of Oklahoma.
Reaves’ last year at Oklahoma was his best during his college days. He averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists during that year. His efforts helped him earn a spot on the First-team All-Big 12. At the end of the season, he announced that he would forgo college and enter the draft.
After ending the 2020-21 season with a 20-52 record, the Detroit Pistons were prepared to select Reaves with the 42nd pick. However, Reaves decided to go undrafted instead of accepting their selection.
On Aug. 3, Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Lakers before signing a standard one on Sept. 27.
Reaves Had To Show His Worth
Reaves’ first year was a sluggish one.
During his rookie season, he averaged only 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Nevertheless, he used the last game of the season to put together his best performance yet. On Apr. 10, he recorded 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his first career triple-double.
Although Reaves didn’t receive any rookie-related awards, he played in the following season with a ton of confidence.
After starting in just 19 games the previous year, he started in 22 of the 64 games he played during the 2022-23 campaign.
Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists that season. He also improved his shot-making accuracy, shooting a career-high 52.9% from the field and 39.8% from the 3-point line. His best game was on Mar. 19 against the Orlando Magic. During that contest, he scored a career-high 35 points, including the Lakers’ last 10 points.
The Hard Work Paid Off
On Jul. 6, the Lakers showed appreciation for Reaves’ improvement as they re-signed him to a four-year, $54 million contract.
The 2023-24 campaign offered more opportunities for Reaves. He played in all 82 games for the first time in his career, starting in 57. While playing 32.1 minutes a game, he averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He also played a major part in helping the Lakers win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament championship. In the championship game against the Indiana Pacers, he scored 28 points off the bench.
This season, Reaves is playing his best basketball yet. He is averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals, all career highs.
He has also put together a multitude of highlights performances. During a Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors, Reaves made a game-winning layup to give the Lakers a 115-113 victory. On Feb. 8, he recorded a career-high 45 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in a win against the Pacers.
Although James’ retirement date is nearing, they still have an optimistic future. With the improving play from Reaves and the acquisition of Doncic, the Lakers’ organization is in good hands.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson