Originally published by LakersNation.com
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has had quite the journey after going undrafted in 2021. He originally signed a two-way contract with the Lakers out of Oklahoma, but he earned a standard deal before his rookie year even started.
Since then, Reaves has continued to improve his game each year and is now playing at an All-Star level with a massive payday coming his way this summer.
And now, Reaves is on the cover of the latest edition of SLAM Magazine, which is a dream in itself for any young basketball player.
In an interview with Franklyn Calle of SLAM Magazine, Reaves talked about the confidence he has always had that has helped him get to this point:
“I have confidence in myself, but I think throughout my whole journey, not getting recruited much, obviously going undrafted, definitely doubt creeps in. But I was super confident in how I played basketball. I knew if I got the opportunity, I’d take advantage of it. But it’s just [about] trying to get that opportunity.”
Reaves famously had the opportunity to get drafted in the second round but instead chose to go undrafted so he could sign with the Lakers. He discussed that decision and how well it worked out for him:
“It was definitely not easy to say no to an opportunity to hear your name called on draft night, but I trusted the work my agents put in. I trusted the analytics behind how they thought it would go in certain situations. And we knew here I would have an opportunity—with the group that they had at the time—to get my foot in the door and sign that regular contract and get off the two-way contract. I went to Bron’s mini-camp right before training camp. I played really well, and then got the call on, I think it was that Sunday. I think Monday was Media Day, so I got back from that trip and Rob [Pelinka] called me and my agent and offered. I think at the time it was like the 14th spot on the roster. So, I fully signed that as fast as I could and made it a reality.”
It all became worth it for Reaves just before his rookie season when he got a call from Rob Pelinka telling him he had earned a standard NBA contract:
“So, it was that Sunday. It was over Zoom. I literally just got off the flight from Vegas. And my agent texted me the night before, so Saturday night, and was like, Hey, when do you go back? Tomorrow, Rob wants to get on a call. And he didn’t say what it was about. He just asked for us to get on a call. So, I told my agent, What could this be about? And he was like, I don’t really know. I’m hearing some good things, but I don’t want to get your hopes up. And then we got on the Zoom and Rob pretty much got straight to it. We talked for probably five minutes or so, and about a minute into it, he was like, We want to offer you the spot. Like I said, obviously we signed that as fast as possible!”
Reaves went from undrafted to one of the best players in the league playing at an All-Star level, something even he has trouble fathoming:
“It’s crazy. I would say there might be a handful of people, when I was 18 years old, 17 years old, who would have thought I would be in a position like this—playing in the NBA. So, looking back, it’s crazy. But it’s fun. I’ve put the work in to be here. I haven’t taken shortcuts. Honestly, I kind of ran around the world to get here. I did everything I possibly could. I sacrificed a lot. So just to be in this position has been a lot of fun. And hopefully we can continue to do that.”
Reaves’ journey has been an incredible one so far, and his prime years are still ahead of him as the 27-year-old looks to get the Lakers back to the playoffs before becoming an unrestricted free agent and earning the payday he has deserved for a while.
Marcus Smart not surprised by Austin Reaves
One person who is not surprised by the greatness of Austin Reaves and doesn’t think other people should be either is Lakers teammates Marcus Smart.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has had quite the journey after going undrafted in 2021. He originally signed a two-way contract with the Lakers out of Oklahoma, but he earned a standard deal before his rookie year even started.
Since then, Reaves has continued to improve his game each year and is now playing at an All-Star level with a massive payday coming his way this summer.
And now, Reaves is on the cover of the latest edition of SLAM Magazine, which is a dream in itself for any young basketball player.
In an interview with Franklyn Calle of SLAM Magazine, Reaves talked about the confidence he has always had that has helped him get to this point:
“I have confidence in myself, but I think throughout my whole journey, not getting recruited much, obviously going undrafted, definitely doubt creeps in. But I was super confident in how I played basketball. I knew if I got the opportunity, I’d take advantage of it. But it’s just [about] trying to get that opportunity.”
Reaves famously had the opportunity to get drafted in the second round but instead chose to go undrafted so he could sign with the Lakers. He discussed that decision and how well it worked out for him:
“It was definitely not easy to say no to an opportunity to hear your name called on draft night, but I trusted the work my agents put in. I trusted the analytics behind how they thought it would go in certain situations. And we knew here I would have an opportunity—with the group that they had at the time—to get my foot in the door and sign that regular contract and get off the two-way contract. I went to Bron’s mini-camp right before training camp. I played really well, and then got the call on, I think it was that Sunday. I think Monday was Media Day, so I got back from that trip and Rob [Pelinka] called me and my agent and offered. I think at the time it was like the 14th spot on the roster. So, I fully signed that as fast as I could and made it a reality.”
It all became worth it for Reaves just before his rookie season when he got a call from Rob Pelinka telling him he had earned a standard NBA contract:
“So, it was that Sunday. It was over Zoom. I literally just got off the flight from Vegas. And my agent texted me the night before, so Saturday night, and was like, Hey, when do you go back? Tomorrow, Rob wants to get on a call. And he didn’t say what it was about. He just asked for us to get on a call. So, I told my agent, What could this be about? And he was like, I don’t really know. I’m hearing some good things, but I don’t want to get your hopes up. And then we got on the Zoom and Rob pretty much got straight to it. We talked for probably five minutes or so, and about a minute into it, he was like, We want to offer you the spot. Like I said, obviously we signed that as fast as possible!”
Reaves went from undrafted to one of the best players in the league playing at an All-Star level, something even he has trouble fathoming:
“It’s crazy. I would say there might be a handful of people, when I was 18 years old, 17 years old, who would have thought I would be in a position like this—playing in the NBA. So, looking back, it’s crazy. But it’s fun. I’ve put the work in to be here. I haven’t taken shortcuts. Honestly, I kind of ran around the world to get here. I did everything I possibly could. I sacrificed a lot. So just to be in this position has been a lot of fun. And hopefully we can continue to do that.”
Reaves’ journey has been an incredible one so far, and his prime years are still ahead of him as the 27-year-old looks to get the Lakers back to the playoffs before becoming an unrestricted free agent and earning the payday he has deserved for a while.
Marcus Smart not surprised by Austin Reaves
One person who is not surprised by the greatness of Austin Reaves and doesn’t think other people should be either is Lakers teammates Marcus Smart.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.