Austin Reaves: From Undrafted Rookie to Los Angeles Lakers Star
Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Four LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Resilience and betting on himself have been Austin Reaves' mottos throughout his career. Not only going from Wichita State to Oklahoma at the college level, but also betting on a better situation with the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent instead of being selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
This year, Reaves was rewarded for his performances by signing a four-year, $185 million maximum contract with the Lakers. After declining his $14.9 million player option for the 2026/27 season, he secured the richest contract for an undrafted player in NBA history.
Now, the expectations on him will be even higher as he becomes the 'Robin' alongside 'Batman' Luka Doncic in the new era for the Lakers following LeBron James' departure from Southern California this summer.
From undrafted to NBA starter
Reaves entered the NBA in 2021 after spending two seasons at Wichita State before transferring to Oklahoma, where he eventually became a First Team All-Big 12 selection.
Despite going undrafted, Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Lakers and eventually earned a standard NBA contract before the start of his rookie season.
Since then, his role has continued to grow every year. Reaves went from averaging 7.3 points per game as a rookie to 13.0 in his second season, 15.9 in his third and 20.2 during the 2024/25 campaign.
A career-best season
This past season was his best one yet. The 28-year-old averaged a career-high 23.3 points along with 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field.
New era in Los Angeles
Reaves' new contract represents how much his situation has changed since arriving in Los Angeles five years ago.
From joining the Lakers without hearing his name called on draft night to signing the richest contract ever given to an undrafted NBA player, Reaves has become one of the most important pieces of the organization.
With Doncic becoming the face of the Lakers moving forward, Reaves will have an opportunity to establish himself as the second option alongside the Slovenian superstar.
The Lakers have seen Reaves develop from an undrafted rookie into a starter and eventually a 20-point-per-game scorer. Now entering the 2026/27 season, they will be counting on him to take another step as they begin a new era in Los Angeles.