Austin Reaves has re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $56 million contract, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Lakers were never going to lose Reaves, who was a restricted free agent.
Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists during the 2022-23 regular season in 64 games. The 25-year-old took his game to another level in the 2023 playoffs, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
Back in April, Reaves told Charania that he wants to stay with the Lakers his entire career. The Oklahoma product grew up a huge Kobe Bryant fan.
“Yeah I wanna be a Laker,” Reaves told Charania. “Obviously, they gave me the first opportunity. I was a huge Laker fan growing up. Big Kobe fan. So honestly, just to be able to play for the Lakers organization is special and I wanna be a Laker. So hopefully we can get this done and I can stay there for hopefully my whole career.”
Reaves has career averages of 10.2 points and 2.6 assists with the Lakers. Don’t be surprised if he makes an All-Star team soon.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers have been very busy since free agency started. They re-signed Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell and signed Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes and Taurean Prince.
Los Angeles got swept by the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. The Lakers continue to operate as if LeBron James will be playing for them next season, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. After the LakeShow lost Game 4 to the Nuggets, “The King” hinted that he might retire this offseason. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP is 38 years old.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
LeBron averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists this past season while shooting 50.0% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free-throw line. The 19-time All-Star then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 boards and 6.5 assists per game in the 2023 playoffs against the Grizzlies, Warriors and Nuggets.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
