After going undrafted again in 2021, Austin Reaves ended up signing with the LA Lakers. The Purple and Gold determined to supply Reaves a two-way contract that enables him to play for each the principle roster and their G League affiliate.
In the end, his quantity was referred to as for a complete of 61 video games final season and have become one of many Lakers’ stable bench gamers. However how precisely did Reaves make it to the NBA?
Let’s check out the trajectory of Austin Reaves’ basketball profession.
Austin Reaves’ NBA Journey
Austin Reaves is a 24-year-old NBA guard enjoying in his second season for the LA Lakers. However earlier than looking at his skilled portfolio, let’s give attention to how he made it to the massive leagues.
Austin Reaves attended Cedar Ridge Excessive College in Newark, Arkansas. He gained consecutive Class 2A state championships in his first two seasons. Among the finest highlights of his highschool life was when Reaves scored 73 factors over Forrest Metropolis Excessive College in a triple-overtime victory.
As a senior, he led his workforce to the Class 3A State Championship with a median of 32.5 factors, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per recreation. After scoring 43.3 factors per recreation over the course of 4 video games, Reaves was named the state match’s MVP. Moreover, he was chosen for Class 3A All-State twice. To sum issues up, Reaves was mainly one of many high prospect gamers of his time.
By the point Reaves made it to school, he ended up enjoying for 2 colleges. Throughout his first two seasons, he performed for Wichita State whereby he performed a a lot smaller function in comparison with what he was used to in highschool.
Reaves averaged 6.1 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. This is not shocking contemplating many excessive schoolers usually regulate to school basketball.
He then transferred to Oklahoma in 2018 however did not play till the 2019-20 NCAA season. Reaves’ stats considerably improved the second he made his debut with the squad.
He averaged a complete of 16.3 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and three.7 assists whereas enjoying two seasons for Oklahoma. Reaves then introduced his entry into the 2021 NBA Draft.
In the end, Austin Reaves went undrafted, however there was a significant motive behind it. In response to the Silver Display & Roll, Reaves turned down a suggestion to be drafted by the Detroit Pistons. This was as a result of the LA Lakers gave him a name previous to draft night time, making certain a two-way contract deal if Reaves went undrafted.
Reaves informed the draft night time story throughout an look on the “94 & Extra” podcast.
“The night time earlier than, the Lakers had referred to as,” Reaves mentioned. “And mentioned if for some motive I am going undrafted, that they needed to be the primary place that mentioned ‘hey, we’ve obtained a two-way for you.’ And so going into the draft we knew that I used to be gonna have a two-way contract in L.A., so we have been in a very good place with contract stuff and issues like that.”
He added:
“So going into the draft we didn’t actually press. I feel Detroit referred to as at like 41 or 42, whichever choose that they had, and have been like ‘we’ll take him on a two-way,’ and it was actually simply extra a state of affairs the place I needed to be the place we noticed one of the best match.”
Austin Reaves’ choice ended up paying off as he’s now enjoying a significant function within the LA Lakers’ rotation. He is without doubt one of the workforce’s most stable function gamers, averaging 9.8 factors, 3.2 rebounds, and two assists per recreation this season. Reaves is environment friendly from the sector taking pictures 51.1%.
His greatest recreation by far was once they defeated the San Antonio Spurs on November 20. He scored 21 factors and shot 7-of-11 from the sector. Reaves is thought to be a wild card as he comes up with spectacular performs out of nowhere. He continually hustles for the ball, secures some essential rebounds, and is artful in ending on the rim. The Lakers are undoubtedly pleased to have him on the roster.
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