Basketball is funny. One day you’re a skinny kid from Newark, Arkansas, whom every scout in the country is ignoring, and the next, you’re the guy the Los Angeles Lakers are leaning on while LeBron James recovers from sciatica. That’s the reality for Austin Reaves.
He isn't just a "nice story" anymore. Honestly, the "undrafted underdog" narrative is kinda dead at this point. You can't call a guy an underdog when he’s dropping 51 points on the Sacramento Kings like he did in October 2025.
The $241 Million Question
People love to talk about the Lakers' payroll. It's basically a national pastime. But right now, the conversation is shifting from "How did they find this guy?" to "How on earth are they going to keep him?"
Reaves is currently playing on what might be the most team-friendly contract in professional sports—a four-year, $53.8 million deal signed back in 2023. To put that in perspective, he’s making about $13.9 million this season. For a guy averaging 26.6 points and 6.3 assists per game, that's basically a rounding error in NBA terms.
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Here’s where it gets spicy: reports surfaced recently that Reaves turned down a four-year, $89 million extension. Can you blame him? Under the current CBA, he’s eligible for a five-year max extension worth up to $241 million this coming summer. That’s "generational wealth" territory. It's the kind of money that changes a franchise's entire cap sheet.
Why JJ Redick Changed Everything
When JJ Redick took over as head coach, everyone wondered how he’d use Reaves. Redick, a former sharpshooter himself, didn't just give Reaves a green light. He basically gave him the keys to the car.
"I told him he's out of excuses," Redick said earlier this season. He was talking about Reaves’ transition from a secondary playmaker to a primary engine.
The results have been, well, staggering.
- A career-high 51 points against the Kings.
- 20+ free throws in a single game (joining a very short list of Lakers legends).
- Game-winning floaters like the buzzer-beater that sank Minnesota in late 2024.
Redick has pushed Reaves to embrace his "innate natural leadership skills." It's working. With Luka Doncic now in the fold and LeBron in the twilight of his career, the Lakers have essentially become a three-headed monster, and Reaves is often the one handling the ball when the game is on the line.
The "Hillbilly Kobe" Myth
Lakers fans started calling him "Hillbilly Kobe" early on. It was a joke, mostly. But if you watch the way he manipulates defenders, it’s not that funny anymore. Reaves has this weird, jerky rhythm that drives defenders crazy. He’s a master of the "grift"—leaning into contact, baiting fouls, and getting to the charity stripe.
He’s shooting 87.3% from the line this season.
He’s also become one of the league’s most efficient high-volume scorers. Most guys who jump from 15 points to 26 points see their percentages crater. Not Reaves. He’s flirting with 50/40/90 splits while shouldering the heaviest usage rate of his life.
The Trade Rumor Mill
Because this is Los Angeles, the rumors never stop. Recently, Rich Paul (who represents LeBron, but notably not Reaves) sparked a firestorm by suggesting the Lakers might need to trade Reaves for a defensive anchor like Jaren Jackson Jr. to maximize their title window.
LeBron had to step in and clear the air, basically saying Rich Paul speaks for himself. But it highlights the tension in the building. Do you pay a 27-year-old guard $40M+ a year when you already have Luka's massive contract? Or do you cash in on his trade value while it’s at an all-time high?
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a segment of NBA Twitter that still thinks Reaves is just a product of the "Laker hype machine." They think if he played in Charlotte or Indiana, nobody would care.
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That’s just wrong.
The numbers don’t lie. He’s 5th in the league in "Clutch Points." He’s 2nd in 3-point field goals in a single season for the Lakers, trailing only the great Kobe Bryant. This isn't just a purple-and-gold delusion. He’s a legitimate All-Star caliber guard who happens to play in the biggest spotlight in the world.
What Happens Next?
If you’re a Lakers fan, you’re holding your breath. The team has a decision to make.
- Pay the Max: Lock him in next summer for the $241M and accept that the tax bill will be astronomical.
- The Middle Ground: Hope he takes a slight discount to stay in the city where he’s a literal folk hero.
- The Trade: Move him for a superstar big man if the defense continues to struggle.
Whatever happens, Austin Reaves has already won. He went from a player who told teams not to draft him so he could pick his own destination, to a man about to sign one of the biggest contracts in basketball history.
If you want to track his progress, watch his "Effective Field Goal Percentage" ($eFG%$) over the next twenty games. If he stays above 58%, he’s not just a star—he’s a cornerstone. The Lakers' championship hopes in 2026 don't just rest on Luka or LeBron. They rest on the kid from Arkansas who finally ran out of excuses.
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Keep an eye on the injury report for his calf strain, but expect him to be back in the lineup before the All-Star break. When he returns, the Lakers' offense will look completely different.