He’s the guy hitting massive playoff shots for the Lakers now, but go back a few years, and Austin Reaves was just a skinny kid from Arkansas trying to survive Gregg Marshall’s practices. Honestly, if you watched Austin Reaves Wichita State games in 2017, you saw the flashes. You saw the smooth stroke. But you probably didn't see an NBA starter.
Most people forget he spent two whole years in Kansas before he ever put on an Oklahoma jersey. He wasn't some "one-and-done" blue-chip recruit. He was a three-star prospect from Newark—a tiny town of about 1,200 people—who chose the Shockers because they were one of the few big programs that actually took him seriously.
What Really Happened with Austin Reaves at Wichita State?
The "Hillbilly Kobe" nickname didn't exist yet. Back then, he was just a role player on a really, really good team.
During his freshman year (2016-17), Reaves was basically a specialist. He played about 12 minutes a game. He’d come in, run the floor, and look for an open look. The wild part? He shot 50.9% from three that year. Think about that. Over half his deep balls went in. But his shoulder was a mess. He actually played through a torn labrum that had been bothering him since high school.
He had surgery on that left shoulder before his freshman year, and then—get this—he had to have surgery on his right shoulder after the season ended. The guy was playing Division I basketball with shoulders that basically refused to stay in the socket.
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The Tulsa Game: A School Record
If there is one moment that defines Austin Reaves Wichita State tenure, it’s January 28, 2018.
Wichita State was playing Tulsa. Reaves came out and looked like he couldn't miss if he tried. He hit seven three-pointers in the first half alone. That’s a school record. He finished the game with 23 points, and for a second, it felt like he was finally becoming "the guy."
But the consistency wasn't there yet. He finished his sophomore season averaging 8.1 points per game. Decent, but not exactly screaming "future NBA star."
Why the Transfer to Oklahoma Shocked Everyone
When Austin decided to leave, it caught people off guard. Gregg Marshall even admitted later that Reaves was the first transfer he'd lost that he really, truly didn't want to see go.
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So why did he leave?
Basically, it came down to a "vision" problem. At Wichita State, Reaves was boxed in. He was a "catch-and-shoot" guy. Marshall’s system was strict—you had to know your role and stick to it. Reaves knew he could do more. He wanted to handle the ball, make plays, and get to the free-throw line.
Lon Kruger at Oklahoma promised him that freedom.
- Weight Gain: He sat out a year due to transfer rules and put on 20 pounds of muscle.
- Playmaking: He went from 2.0 assists at Wichita to 4.6 at Oklahoma.
- Confidence: He stopped being a "specialist" and started being a "star."
There are always rumors about why players leave. You’ll hear some weird internet gossip about Reaves dating Marshall's daughter, but in reality, it was a basketball decision. He saw a ceiling at Wichita State and decided to break through it elsewhere.
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The Wichita State Stats You Should Know
It’s easy to look at his NBA stats and forget the grind. Here’s a quick look at how the Austin Reaves Wichita State numbers actually stacked up over those 66 games:
- Total Points: 6.1 per game (overall average).
- Three-Point Shooting: 45.1% (which is still elite).
- Free Throw Accuracy: Just under 80%.
- Games Started: Only 11.
He was a sub. A high-level sub, sure, but a sub nonetheless. It’s kinda crazy to think that a guy who couldn't crack the starting lineup for the Shockers consistently is now the guy LeBron James trusts in the fourth quarter.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Reaves' career or trying to understand his value today, look at the Wichita State years as the foundation of his "role player" DNA. He learned how to be effective without the ball in his hands. That’s why he fits so well with stars now—he spent two years mastering the art of the catch-and-shoot.
What to watch for next: Watch his shooting splits. His time at Wichita State proved he is naturally an elite shooter, even if his percentages dipped slightly in the NBA as his volume and "difficulty of shot" increased. If he ever gets back to that 40%+ range from deep on high volume, he's an All-Star.
The lesson here is simple: sometimes a player isn't "bad," they're just in the wrong system. Wichita State gave him the toughness, but Oklahoma gave him the keys.
Next Steps: You might want to look into the 2018 AAC standings to see just how loaded that Wichita State roster was, or check out his 41-point breakout game at Oklahoma to see the immediate result of his transfer.