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Austin Reaves’s journey to stardom came with ups and downs, but he is finally in the limelight and is grabbing it with both hands. An American professional basketball player, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, Reaves rose to become his team’s starting shooting guard within two years.
Pulse Sports takes a look into the story of Reaves, revealing how he rose from being an undrafted nobody to become a shooting guard, even leading the Lakers to some wins in LeBron James's absence.
Who is Austin Reaves?
Austin Reaves, whose full name is “Austin Tyler Reaves," is a professional basketball player who plies his trade as a shooting guard for the famous Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
Reaves is living a dream by playing for the Lakers and has never hidden how much he appreciates the journey and destination.
Speaking to reporters in March 2023, he said: “It’s special. I grew up a Lakers fan, so to do it for this organization especially is surreal. Sometimes I’ve got to stop and really think about what I am doing. Obviously, I think all the odds were stacked against me from where I’m from. … I’ve said many times I’m not the most athletic person in the world. I’m not the best at anything, but I think I’m really good at a lot of things.”
Where is Austin Reaves from?
Reaves is from Newark, Arkansas, a town that is home to just under 1,200 people. When describing Reaves's home town in a 2021 publication, Ringer painted a picture of a humble town with a couple of people and old-timers who drank coffee while speaking excitedly about upcoming school games.
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Austin Reaves age
Reaves was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas, making him 25 years old at the time of writing this. Reaves will turn 26 soon and according to astrology, his birth sign is Gemini.
Austin Reaves height
According to the NBA website, Austin Reaves is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 196 pounds, which is a solid height for a shooting guard in the NBA. This stature gives him an advantage on defence, allowing him to contest shots and disrupt passing lanes. While not the tallest player on the court, his wingspan, reported at 6 feet, 6.25 inches, helps him make up for any slight height difference.
Reaves' height, combined with his well-rounded skill set that includes ball-handling, shooting, and court vision, makes him a valuable asset on the court. He can attack smaller defenders with his size and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
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Who is Austin Reaves's Dad?
Reaves’ father is Brian Reaves and his mother is Nicole Wilkett. Both of his parents played college basketball at Arkansas State. Based on records from Arkansas State media guide, Reaves’ father is in the record books at Arkansas State. Brian Reaves ranked tied for fourth in career assists at Arkansas State, with 384 as of 2023, and he played for the school from 1990 to 1993.
Reaves’ mother also played at Arkansas State until 1992 and scored 1,139 points in her career. With 680 points during her senior season, she is among the highest scorers in a season in school’s history.
Where did Austin Reaves go to college?
Reaves actually played college ball for two different schools. His college career started at Wichita State University in Kansas, where he impressed as a sharp shooter, leading the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage during his sophomore year.
However, after two seasons with the Shockers, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma. Due to NCAA transfer rules, he sat out a year but used that time to add muscle and strength. In his senior year at Oklahoma, he became a key player, even hitting a game-winning shot with just half a second left on the clock.
When was Austin Reaves drafted?
Reaves was actually not drafted in the traditional sense, although the Detroit Pistons considered him with the 42nd pick in the 2021 NBA draft, until a surprising twist occurred.
Reaves, along with his agents, had a different plan, as they opted out of being drafted by Detroit because it likely would have meant a two-way contract. This type of contract splits a player's time between the NBA team and their G League affiliate and the player believed in his potential and wanted a guaranteed spot on an NBA roster.
The gamble eventually paid off as Reaves landed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2021. After impressing during training camp, he eventually earned a standard NBA contract with the Lakers a month later before the 2021-2022 season started.
Austin Reaves contract
Austin Reaves’ salary for the 2022-2023 season was $1,563,518, while he was paid $925,258 during his rookie season in 2021-2022, according to Spotrac.
In July 2023, the Lakers rewarded his impressive play with a lucrative contract, offering him a 4-year deal worth a reported $56 million. This contract is the maximum allowed under the league's "Early Bird" rule for promising young players and the deal includes a player option in the fourth year, giving Reaves some control over his future.
What is Austin Reaves’s career high?
Reaves' scoring prowess might surprise some. While he is known for his hustle and defensive contributions, his career high in the NBA stands at an impressive 35 points. This explosive performance came on March 19, 2023, against the Orlando Magic. Not only did he lead the Lakers to a 111-105 victory, but he also displayed his clutch gene by scoring the final 10 points of the game. This outing solidified his potential as a valuable offensive weapon coming off the bench.
Austin Reaves stats
Despite only being in his third season, Reaves boasts a well-rounded stat sheet. He averages an impressive 12.4 points per game, showcasing his scoring prowess. He's not just a shooter though, averaging 3.7 assists per game, demonstrating his ability to set up teammates. On the rebounding side, he pulls down a respectable 3.6 rebounds per game.
His shooting efficiency is noteworthy as well. He boasts a field goal percentage of nearly 50% and a respectable 3-point percentage of over 36%. While defensive stats are not his calling card yet, he contributes with steals and blocks.
Austin Reaves jersey
Reaves wears jersey number 15, which was interestingly not his initial choice. Undrafted in 2021, he wore number 31 in Summer League but opted for 15 for the regular season, simply because it felt right. It offered a similar look to his preferred number 12, worn in college, with the digits flipped.
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Will Austin Reaves be traded?
Trading Reaves is off the table for the Lakers, as they can only consider a top-tier All-Star or a package of strong role players in exchange, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Austin Reaves 2k rating
In NBA 2K24, Reaves boasts a respectable overall rating of 82. He shines as a 3-level threat with a deadly close shot (96 rating) and a reliable three-point shot (81 rating), making him a danger zone shooter on the court.
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Who is Austin Reaves dating?
Austin Reaves has been with his high school sweetheart, Jenna Barber, for nearly a decade. They hail from the same small town in Arkansas and have been a steady source of support for each other throughout his basketball journey.
Austin Reaves girlfriend
Reaves' girlfriend, Jenna Barber, was also born in Newark, Arkansas, in the United States of America, just like her boyfriend. The name of her parents are Sandra and Brian Barber and she has a twin sister, Jordan Wheeler and another younger sister, Jaden Barber.
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Austin Reaves networth
Reaves’ net worth is around $4 million, as of 2024, according to several sources. A bulk of his wealth comes from his contract with the Lakers, while he is also a brand ambassador for Chinese company, Rogeror.
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