The journey of Austin Reaves to where he is as an NBA player today is truly one of the best in recent history. After going undrafted in 2021, Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, but had that converted into a standard deal before his rookie season even began.
Since then, it has been constant growth for Reaves from a solid reserve, to trusted starter and, this season, a borderline All-Star. One person who has seen it from the beginning is LeBron James, who had nothing but praise for Reaves and how far he has come.
“Just seeing AR grow over, what, five years? It’s been nothing short of amazing,” James said following the conclusion of the Lakers’ season. “He’s a hard worker, loves the game, he wants to get better and he’s not afraid of constructive criticism. I kind of knew that from the beginning.
“I saw the talent but I also saw he was willing to put the work in and wasn’t afraid of the moment. To see where he is today is awesome. I knew he could be a big-time player for our ballclub if he just got the opportunity and if gained confidence in himself to know he belonged in this league, then he could do some special things in this league. He’s obviously shown it.”
Reaves was undoubtedly special this season, averaging a career-high 23.3 points along with 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He took on a larger role within the Lakers offense and even though he dealt with multiple injuries, he still showed that he is someone this team can build around.
James has seen everything there is to see in the NBA and teamed with every type of player possible so for him to have this type of praise for Reaves says a lot. He has meant a lot for Reaves’ career and has played a big role in the guard improving and showing he belongs in this league.
Whether or not the two will continue being teammates next season is up in the air as both are expected to become unrestricted free agents and it is anyone’s guess as to whether James will even return for a 24th NBA season. But one thing that’s for sure is that James respects what Reaves is all about and the hard work he has put in to become a star in the league.
Potential suitors for Austin Reaves beginning to emerge
Reaves will be one of the best available free agents this summer and potential teams looking to sign him this offseason are already beginning to emerge.
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