You remember where you were when the "Hillbilly Kobe" nickname actually started to make sense? It wasn't just some funny meme or a late-night Twitter joke. It was that cold December night in 2021 when an undrafted kid from Arkansas, playing alongside LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, stepped into a shot that basically changed his entire life.
Honestly, the Austin Reaves game winner against the Dallas Mavericks is one of those "I was there" moments for Lakers fans.
But it wasn't a fluke. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and Reaves is no longer just a "scrappy role player." He's a star. On October 29, 2025, he did it again, sinking a dramatic buzzer-beating floater to take down the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115. No LeBron. No Luka Dončić (who joined the Lakers in this timeline). Just Reaves, a double team, and a lot of guts.
That First Dallas Dagger
Let’s go back. December 15, 2021. The Lakers were in a weird spot, struggling for identity in the Westbrook era. The game went to overtime. With 0.9 seconds left, the ball didn't go to LeBron. It didn't go to AD. It found the rookie in the corner.
Reaves caught it, didn't blink, and drained a three-pointer that sent the bench into a frenzy. It ended a 107-104 win and officially put him on the map. He finished that game with 15 points, all on threes. People thought, "Cool, he can shoot." They didn't realize he was a cold-blooded assassin.
Why the Timberwolves Game Winner in 2025 Changed Everything
There is a massive difference between hitting a shot as a rookie and carrying a team as the primary option. By late 2025, Reaves was averaging nearly 29 points a game. He’d just come off a week where he dropped 51 on Sacramento and 41 on Portland.
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Against Minnesota, the Lakers blew a 20-point lead. It was ugly. The momentum was totally gone. With the clock winding down, Reaves split a double team—navigating right past Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo—and lofted a funky, off-balance floater.
Swish. It capped a 28-point, 16-assist performance. You don't just "luck" into those numbers. He became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2005 to start a season with five straight 25-point games.
The Evolution of the "Clutch" Gene
A lot of people think clutch shooting is just about the shot itself. It’s not. It’s about the footwork, the foul-drawing, and the absolute refusal to be rattled.
Reaves has mastered the art of the "slow-motion" drive. He isn't the fastest guy on the court, but he's shifty. He’s basically the NBA version of a pitcher with a 90-mph fastball but a 70-mph changeup that makes everyone look stupid.
- Basketball IQ: He knows when to hunt the foul (he shot 21-of-22 from the line against the Kings!).
- Playmaking: His 16 assists against the Wolves proved he isn't just looking for his own shot.
- Mental Toughness: He’s gone from undrafted to the guy JJ Redick trusts with the season on the line.
The Boston Massacre (Without the Stars)
We can't talk about an Austin Reaves game winner or clutch performance without mentioning February 1, 2024. LeBron and AD were both out. The Lakers were massive underdogs against a dominant Celtics team.
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Reaves didn't just win the game; he owned the arena. 32 points. Seven threes. He was pulling up from the logo. Every time Boston tried to make a run, Reaves hit a back-breaker. It wasn't a single buzzer-beater, but it was 48 minutes of "game-winning" energy.
Lakers fans started calling him "Baustin Reaves" after that. Kinda cheesy? Yeah. Deserved? Absolutely.
What Most People Get Wrong About Reaves
There's this weird narrative that Reaves is only good because he plays for the Lakers. If he were on the Charlotte Hornets, would people care?
Actually, yes. Scouts have finally stopped looking at his "lack of athleticism" and started looking at his efficiency. His true shooting percentage has hovered around 68%, which is absurd for a guard who handles the ball as much as he does. He’s not a "Laker hype" product; he’s a legitimate All-NBA caliber talent who happens to wear purple and gold.
He also talks a lot of trash. His relationship with Luka Dončić is basically just 48 minutes of chirping back and forth. Reaves isn't intimidated by the superstars. He thinks he's one of them. And lately, he's been right.
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Real Insights for Basketball Fans
If you’re watching the Lakers this year, pay attention to the fourth quarter. The ball is going to Reaves. Here’s why his game-winning ability is sustainable:
- The Floater Game: He has one of the highest release points on his floater in the league, making it nearly impossible for bigs like Gobert to block.
- Free Throw Gravity: Because he’s such a threat to draw a foul, defenders play him with "hands up," which gives him the space to step back for the three.
- Conditioning: He’s playing nearly 40 minutes a night and still has the legs to hit shots in the final ten seconds.
The next time you see Austin Reaves standing at the top of the key with five seconds left, don't assume he's looking for LeBron. He’s looking for the rim. He’s done it in Dallas, he’s done it in Minnesota, and he’ll probably do it to your favorite team next Tuesday.
To really understand his impact, go back and watch the "all-access" footage of the Minnesota game. Watch his face. He isn't celebrating like he's surprised. He's celebrating like he's been there before. Because he has.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on the NBA All-Star voting returns. Reaves has moved into the top three for Western Conference guards for a reason. If you want to see the technical breakdown of his footwork on that 2025 winner, check out the Lakers' official YouTube channel for the "Mic'd Up" segments—it shows exactly how he directed the floor before the final play.