Before he was hitting clutch shots next to LeBron James or drawing "MVP" chants at Crypto.com Arena, Austin Reaves was just a skinny kid from Arkansas trying to survive Gregg Marshall’s notoriously intense practices. Most fans know he played for Oklahoma. Some might even know he grew up in Newark, Arkansas. But the Austin Reaves Wichita State years? That’s where the real grit was formed, even if it ended in a way that left a lot of people in Kansas scratching their heads.
It’s honestly wild to look back at his freshman stats. He averaged 4.1 points. That’s it. You’ve got a guy now earning nearly $14 million a year who was essentially a specialist off the bench for the Shockers. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Not even close.
Why the Austin Reaves Wichita State tenure was tougher than you think
If you want to understand why Austin Reaves is so "tough" in the NBA, you have to look at his medical bill from 2016. He didn't just walk into Wichita State and start hooping. Before he even played a minute of college ball, he had to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He’d actually been playing with that injury since his junior year of high school. Imagine that. Diving for loose balls in Newark with a shoulder that’s basically held together by tape and hope.
Then, because the universe has a sense of humor, he finished his freshman year only to go under the knife again. This time it was the right shoulder. It had dislocated three times during the season.
Basically, Reaves spent his first two years of college ball playing through structural damage in both shoulders. When people wonder why he’s willing to take a charge from a 250-pound center today, the answer is usually that he’s already been through worse in a practice gym in Wichita.
💡 You might also like: Nebraska Basketball Women's Schedule: What Actually Matters This Season
The Tulsa game that changed everything
There was one specific moment during the Austin Reaves Wichita State era where everyone realized he was a bit different. It was January 28, 2018. The Shockers were playing Tulsa, and Reaves just... went off.
He set a school record by hitting seven three-pointers in the first half. He finished with 23 points. It wasn't just that he was making shots; it was the way he was doing it. He had this swagger that felt a little too big for the role he was being asked to play. At that time, Wichita State was loaded. They had Landry Shamet, Conner Frankamp, and Shaq Morris. Reaves was a piece of the puzzle, but that Tulsa game proved he could be the whole damn puzzle if he wanted to.
The messy exit and the Gregg Marshall factor
When Reaves announced he was transferring in April 2018, it felt like a gut punch to the Shocker faithful. Why leave a winning program where you’re shooting 42.5% from deep?
Rumors flew. Some people on Reddit and message boards claimed it was about playing time. Others whispered about friction with Gregg Marshall. Marshall wasn’t an easy guy to play for—we all know how that ended later on—and Reaves was a kid who wanted more than just to be a "catch-and-shoot" guy.
📖 Related: Missouri vs Alabama Football: What Really Happened at Faurot Field
The truth is probably simpler: he saw the writing on the wall. Wichita State was moving to the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the roster was turning over, and Reaves knew he had more in his bag. He didn't want to just be the guy in the corner. He wanted the ball.
- Freshman Year: 4.1 PPG, 50.9% from 3 (reserve role)
- Sophomore Year: 8.1 PPG, 42.5% from 3 (11 starts)
- The Transfer: Chose Oklahoma over 22 other schools (including Michigan and Purdue)
He had to sit out a year because of the old NCAA rules. During that redshirt year at Oklahoma, he basically lived in the weight room. He gained about 20 pounds. When he finally stepped back on the court for the Sooners, he wasn't the "skinny shooter" from Wichita anymore. He was a playmaker.
What most fans get wrong about his transfer
There’s this narrative that Austin Reaves "failed" at Wichita State or couldn't hack it. That’s total nonsense. He was actually incredibly efficient there. He left because he wanted to be a primary option, a "Point God" type of player that his parents—both of whom were stars at Arkansas State—knew he could be.
His dad, Brian, is still all over the Arkansas State record books for assists. Basketball is in the DNA. At Wichita, he was a specialist. At Oklahoma, he became the engine. If he stays at Wichita, does he ever get to the Lakers? Maybe. But he wouldn't have been the same player. He needed that year of sitting out to transform his body and his mind.
👉 See also: Miami Heat New York Knicks Game: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
The "what if" scenario
Wichita State fans often wonder what would’ve happened if he stayed. That 2018-19 season for the Shockers was a rebuilding year. Reaves would have been the veteran. He probably would have averaged 18 a game right then and there. But the exposure in the Big 12 at Oklahoma is what really put him on the NBA radar, even if he did end up going undrafted.
Actionable insights for following his legacy
If you're a fan of the underdog story, the Austin Reaves Wichita State chapter is essential reading. It proves that development isn't linear. Sometimes you have to leave a good situation to find a great one.
To really appreciate where he is now, watch old clips of that Tulsa game from 2018. Look at the shoulder brace he’s wearing. Look at the way he moves. Then watch him now. The shooting stroke is the same, but the confidence was forged in those MVC and AAC battles.
- Check out his efficiency: His 45.1% career three-point mark at Wichita State remains one of the best two-year stretches in program history.
- Understand the jump: He went from taking 4.2 shots per game at Wichita to 12.0 at Oklahoma.
- The Lakers connection: The grit he showed playing through two labrum surgeries is exactly why the Lakers' front office fell in love with him.
The journey from Newark to Wichita to Norman to Los Angeles is one of the most improbable runs in modern basketball. And it all started with a skinny kid in Kansas who refused to just stay in the corner and shoot.
Check his current stats against those sophomore year numbers. You’ll see a player who didn't just get better—he completely reinvented what he was allowed to be on a basketball court.