Austin Reaves Bio
Austin Tyler Reaves (born May 29, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He plays the shooting guard position and is listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 197 pounds. Reaves joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has since become a key contributor known for his scoring, playmaking, and late-game poise.
Before reaching the NBA, Reaves played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers and the Oklahoma Sooners. In only a few professional seasons he has earned multiple fan nicknames, won an NBA Cup championship in 2023, and signed a long-term contract to remain in Los Angeles through 2027.
Early Life and Background
Austin Tyler Reaves was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas. He is the son of Brian Reaves and Nicole Wilkett, both of whom played college basketball at Arkansas State. His mother averaged 21.3 points per game and earned all-conference honors as a senior, while his father tied for third in program history with 384 career assists. Reaves also has a brother, Spencer, who later played college basketball and professionally in Europe.
Reaves attended Cedar Ridge High School in Newark, Arkansas, where he developed into one of the state’s top scorers. As a senior, he averaged 32.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game and led his team to a Class 3A state title. He was named MVP of the state tournament after averaging 43.3 points through four games, and he was a two-time Class 3A All-State selection.
Path to Basketball
On January 20, 2016, Reaves committed to playing college basketball at Wichita State, choosing the Shockers over offers from South Dakota State and Arkansas State. Entering his freshman season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he had played through since his junior year of high school. As a freshman, he averaged 4.1 points per game in a reserve role.
As a sophomore, Reaves averaged 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Oklahoma and sat out the following year due to NCAA transfer rules. During his redshirt year, he weight-trained and added 20 pounds, setting the stage for his breakout as a junior, when he recorded a career-high 41 points against TCU and was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team.
Austin Reaves Career
Senior Year and Draft (2020–2021)
In his senior season at Oklahoma, Reaves averaged 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He posted a 32-point, nine-assist, six-rebound performance against TCU on December 6, 2020, and scored 27 points in a second-round NCAA tournament loss to Gonzaga. On March 31, 2021, Reaves declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. Reports indicate he declined a potential selection by the Detroit Pistons, opting instead to sign a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on August 3, 2021. On September 27, 2021, he was elevated to a standard NBA contract.
Rookie Season (2021–22)
Reaves made his NBA debut on October 22, 2021, scoring eight points off the bench in a 115–105 loss to the Phoenix Suns. He later hit a game-winning three-pointer in a 107–104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on December 15, 2021. During the Lakers’ season finale on April 10, 2022, he recorded the first triple-double of his career with 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in an overtime win over the Denver Nuggets.
Sophomore Season (2022–23)
Reaves built on his rookie campaign and, on March 19, 2023, scored a then career-high 35 points with six rebounds and six assists in a 111–105 win against the Orlando Magic, closing the game with the final 10 Lakers points. In the playoffs, he scored 23 points in Game 1 of a first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies and matched that total in Game 4, an overtime victory. His early success brought him nicknames including “AR-15,” “Hillbilly Kobe,” and “White Kobe,” though Reaves has publicly expressed dislike for those labels.
Lakers Re-Signing and NBA Cup Triumph (2023–24)
On July 6, 2023, Reaves re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $54 million contract. He opened the 2023–24 season with a long streak of consecutive starts before shifting to a bench role. On December 9, 2023, Reaves and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, with Reaves scoring 28 points off the bench in the championship game against the Indiana Pacers.
He continued to deliver big performances throughout the year, including a 32-point game on seven made three-pointers in a win over the Boston Celtics on February 1, 2024, and a triple-double of 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in a double-overtime win at the Milwaukee Bucks on March 26, 2024.
Career-Best Scoring (2024–25)
On December 25, 2024, Reaves hit the game-winning layup and finished with a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 115–113 win over the Golden State Warriors. He later recorded a career-high 16 assists in a win over the Sacramento Kings on December 28, 2024, and scored a then career-high 38 points in a 102–101 win over the Brooklyn Nets on January 17, 2025. On February 8, 2025, he raised that mark to 45 points in a 124–117 win over the Indiana Pacers, joining Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis as Lakers who have scored 45 or more in the past twenty years.
Continued Production (2025–26)
Reaves opened the 2025–26 season with a 51-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist performance in a 127–120 win over the Sacramento Kings on October 26, 2025, setting a new career high. He also made his 500th career three-pointer in that game. Three days later, he hit a game-winning buzzer-beating floater and finished with 28 points and 16 assists in a 116–115 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reaves is recognized for his composure in late-game situations, his three-point shooting, and his ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates. He has shown a willingness to attack the rim, draw fouls, and deliver in clutch moments, whether as a starter or coming off the bench.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his first career triple-double against the Denver Nuggets in 2022, his 2023 NBA Cup championship, his 45-point game against the Indiana Pacers in February 2025, and his 51-point outburst against the Sacramento Kings in October 2025, when he also made his 500th career three-pointer.
Austin Reaves Career Wins
Austin Reaves has compiled an impressive list of team and individual accomplishments in a short NBA career. His breakthrough came in 2023, when he helped the Lakers capture the NBA Cup, and he has continued to add signature performances each subsequent season.
NBA and Championship Highlights
Reaves is an NBA Cup champion (2023) and an active member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ core. He has also represented the United States at the international level, playing for the 2023 U.S. national team at the FIBA World Cup, becoming only the third undrafted NBA player to join a U.S. national team.
Other Awards and Performances
At the college level, Reaves was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team in 2020 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021. He has also built a brand off the court through a signature shoe deal with Chinese sports apparel brand Rigorer, with his first signature shoe, the “AR1,” released in August 2023.
Austin Reaves Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Austin Reaves comes from a basketball-oriented family. Both of his parents, Brian Reaves and Nicole Wilkett, played college basketball at Arkansas State, and his brother, Spencer, played college basketball at North Greenville and Central Missouri before pursuing a professional career in Europe. Reaves has credited his brother with sparking his initial interest in basketball.
Personal Life
Reaves grew up a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise he now represents. His grandmother is German, which allowed him to obtain a German passport in 2022. After expressing interest in playing for Germany’s national team, he ultimately joined the 2023 U.S. World Cup team.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been among the most productive of Austin Reaves’ career. On Christmas Day 2024, he delivered a 26-point triple-double capped by a game-winning layup against the Golden State Warriors, signaling his continued growth as a late-game option. He followed that with a 16-assist performance against the Sacramento Kings and a 38-point outing versus the Brooklyn Nets in January 2025.
Reaves reached another level on February 8, 2025, erupting for 45 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers and joining a select group of recent Lakers to surpass the 45-point mark. He carried that scoring form into the 2025 NBA playoffs and the start of the 2025–26 regular season, where he opened with a 51-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist line against the Sacramento Kings on October 26, 2025.
With a contract that runs through 2027, Reaves remains a central piece of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation alongside established stars. His continued scoring outbursts, playmaking, and comfort in big moments suggest he will remain a focal point of the team’s offense for the foreseeable future.
