3 goals for Austin Reaves in his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers
He’s here and he’s perfect. Some call him “Hillbilly Kobe” and some simply call him by his name – Austin Reaves. Regardless of how people refer to him, he’s a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers who has made a name for himself during the preseason. Perhaps he’s already made it to the pinnacle of his NBA career after receiving high praise from King James.
Six-foot-five Reaves is an alum of the University of Oklahoma, where he transferred to in 2018 after spending his first two years at Wichita State. As a Sooner, Austin played in 56 games and averaged 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Reaves grew up in Newark, and no, not the Newark that’s the largest city in New Jersey. He was raised on a farm in Arkansas, so he’s definitely not the city type. Except maybe now he is, but actually he doesn’t have much of a choice but to like big cities.
Austin Reaves needs to keep these goals in mind in order to have a successful rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Austin Reaves is spending his rookie season with one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. Playing for the Lakers and living in Los Angeles is absolutely nothing like living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, but Reaves’ dreams are playing out right in front of him. It seems fitting that his new home isn’t far from Hollywood.
It all started with the 2021 draft, where Austin went undrafted. He signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in early August and has already earned a guaranteed roster spot with the organization. I’m not sure that he could’ve thought up a better first two months as a professional basketball player. He gets to play alongside some of the top names in the league which will be crucial to his development.
Los Angeles is 0-5 so far in the preseason with its final chance to earn a win on Thursday night before the regular season begins on Oct. 19. There hasn’t been much for Lakers fans to take away from their first five games, but Austin Reaves’ performance cannot be overlooked. He’s averaged eight points and has shot 44 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from behind the arc.
Here are three goals for Austin’s rookie season in purple and gold.