Josh Reaves Bio
Joshua Alexander Reaves is a Bolivian-American professional basketball player for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. Born on June 4, 1997, in Fairfax, Virginia, he gained recognition playing for Penn State University, where he developed into one of the top defenders in the Big Ten Conference. With dual citizenship in the United States and Bolivia, he is the first player of Bolivian descent to play in the NBA. Over the years, Reaves has built a versatile résumé that includes college accolades, NBA experience with the Dallas Mavericks, international stints in Turkey, and leadership of Bolivia’s national team in international competitions.
Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 214 lb (97 kg), Reaves plays the shooting guard position and is widely respected for his defensive intensity and court vision. His career path has taken him through the NBA, the NBA G League, the Basketbol Süper Ligi in Turkey, and the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification rounds. Today, he continues to be a key contributor for the Vipers and a central figure for the Bolivian national program.
Early Life and Background
Reaves was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, alongside his older brother. He grew up in a single-parent household led by his Bolivian-born mother, Liset Bravo Reaves, after his father passed away when he was six years old. His Bolivian heritage later gave him dual American and Bolivian citizenship, shaping a personal story that bridges two countries. He also has an uncle who played soccer professionally, a family background that helped shape his love of competitive sports.
Reaves first attended Middleburg Academy, where he played alongside future NFL player Mo Alie-Cox, before transferring to Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax. There, he competed in both basketball and soccer and was named team captain as a junior, averaging 12.6 points per game. He earned All-Washington Metro Area honors and helped the Panthers capture the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title, the VISAA Division I State championship, and the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament.
Before his senior year, Reaves transferred to Oak Hill Academy, one of the most storied basketball programs in the United States. Ranked the 74th-best recruit nationally and the second-best in Virginia by ESPN, he chose Penn State over offers from Temple, Villanova, Maryland, VCU, and Georgetown. As team captain at Oak Hill, he led a squad that went 47-1 and finished seventh nationally according to MaxPreps, capping one of the most decorated high school stretches of any recent Bolivian-American player.
Path to Professional Basketball
At Penn State, Reaves quickly established himself as a defensive specialist. As a freshman, he started 20 games and appeared in six more off the bench despite missing time with mononucleosis, averaging 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.7 points and four rebounds per game while leading the Big Ten with 2.14 steals per contest, a number that ranked 16th in the nation.
His junior year saw him expand his offensive game, averaging 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He again led the Big Ten in steals at 2.18 per game and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, helping the Nittany Lions capture the 2018 NIT championship. As a senior, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and an honorable mention all-conference selection after averaging 10.6 points, five rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game, while leading the conference in steals for a third straight season.
Reaves finished his Penn State career with 1,079 points, 540 rebounds, 310 assists, 92 blocked shots, and a school-record 250 steals. He was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament following his senior season, where he was named to the All-Tournament team. Although he went unselected in the 2019 NBA draft, his college résumé, highlighted by the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and two All-Defensive Team selections, opened the door to the next stage of his career.
Josh Reaves Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
After going unselected in the 2019 NBA draft, Reaves joined the Dallas Mavericks Summer League roster, where he averaged 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and one block across five games. His two-way play earned him a two-way contract with the Mavericks on July 29, 2019, beginning his professional career within the NBA system.
Reaves made his NBA debut on January 2, 2020, playing the final minute of a 123-111 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Months later, on August 10, 2020, he made his first career field goal, a layup on a backdoor cut, in a 122-114 victory over the Utah Jazz, finishing with four points, one rebound, and three assists in 14 minutes. Although his rookie season was limited, he showed flashes of the defensive versatility that defined his college career.
Dallas Mavericks Breakthrough (2019-2020)
Reaves’ time with the Mavericks organization gave him his first taste of NBA basketball and confirmed his ability to contribute at the highest level. Working primarily with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, he continued to develop his perimeter defense and playmaking instincts. His NBA appearances, though brief, included his first career points, rebound, and assist, milestones that anchored his transition to professional play.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers Era (2021-Present)
On December 19, 2020, Reaves signed briefly with the Houston Rockets before being waived the same day, and on January 18, 2021, he joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, he played all 15 games for the Vipers, averaging 12 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, and scored 7 points in a G League quarterfinal loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors.
After a year overseas, Reaves returned to the Vipers on November 3, 2022, making the opening night roster for the 2022-23 season. He played 14 regular-season games, averaging 7.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds, and appeared in all five playoff games. In the G League Finals, he totaled 9 points as the Vipers fell in two games to the Delaware Blue Coats. He remains with the organization as a veteran presence and a key perimeter defender.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reaves is best known for his defensive anticipation, particularly his ability to generate steals, an attribute that defined his three consecutive years leading the Big Ten in steals. At 6 ft 4 in, he uses his length and quick hands to disrupt passing lanes, while his basketball IQ allows him to make smart rotations on the wing. On offense, he plays a steady, team-oriented game, leaning on midrange shooting, smart cuts, and confident playmaking from the shooting guard position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reaves’ most notable milestones include becoming the first player of Bolivian descent to play in the NBA, setting the Penn State record with 250 career steals, and winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. He was also a key contributor on the 2018 NIT champion Penn State Nittany Lions and represented Bolivia as its leading player in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification rounds, leading his national team in points, assists, steals, and blocks.
Josh Reaves Career Wins
While Reaves has not won an NBA championship, his trophy case includes the 2018 NIT championship with Penn State and individual recognition as the 2019 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a two-time selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team (2018, 2019), highlighting a college career built on defensive excellence.
NIT and Big Ten Highlights
Reaves’ most significant team win came in 2018, when Penn State captured the NIT championship behind his steady two-way play. Individually, his back-to-back Big Ten All-Defensive Team selections and his 2019 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award stand as the defining statistical markers of his college career.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Reaves helped Paul VI Catholic win the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title, the VISAA Division I State championship, and the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. He also captained an Oak Hill Academy team that went 47-1 and finished seventh nationally, one of the most dominant prep records in recent memory.
Josh Reaves Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Reaves’ family background is rooted in athletics and Bolivian heritage. His mother, Liset Bravo Reaves, is Bolivian-born and raised him and his older brother, Michael, as a single parent after their father passed away when Reaves was six. His uncle played soccer professionally, a connection that helped fuel his early love of sport. His older brother, Michael, later played college football at Shepherd University.
Personal Life
Reaves holds dual American and Bolivian citizenship and takes great pride in representing Bolivia on the international stage. He is widely recognized as the first Bolivian to play in the NBA, a milestone that has made him a cultural figure in Bolivian sports. Off the court, he continues to live a low-profile life focused on his professional basketball career and his commitments to the Bolivian national team.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Reaves remains with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he continues to provide veteran leadership and perimeter defense. The Vipers, a perennial G League contender, have used his experience in both regular-season and playoff matchups, particularly in high-stakes moments. His dual role as a G League contributor and Bolivia’s national team leader has shaped his 2025 schedule, balancing domestic play with international FIBA competition.
Reaves’ 2025 outlook will be shaped by the Vipers’ pursuit of another G League Finals appearance, an effort in which his defensive playmaking and senior presence are expected to play a key role. At the same time, Bolivia’s national team continues to develop around his production in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification rounds, where he led the team in points, assists, steals, and blocks in 2023. His ability to balance club and country has become a defining theme of his 2025 campaign.
With his NBA experience, international background, and proven defensive résumé, Reaves remains one of the most unique and respected figures in the G League. His continued presence with the Vipers and his leadership of Bolivia’s national program ensure that 2025 will be another meaningful chapter in a career that continues to bridge two basketball worlds.