Who is Austin Reaves?
Austin Tyler Reaves was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas. He is far more than a run-of-the-mill basketball player, but rather the athletic phenomenon that comes along with a story as unique as his journey into the NBA. If you can’t remember who he is, then imagine this: a kid from small-town Arkansas whose slam dunks are a reality after navigating the complex labyrinth of college basketball. Imagine him as a boy, dribbling around in oversized shoes; the odds are, those oversized shoes belonged to his parents, who, incidentally, were both college basketball players. Yes, this guy practically came into this world holding a ball!
Reaves entered the 2021 NBA draft, but like a bad Tinder date, he went undrafted. But he would recover quickly, signing a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on August 3, 2021. He has simply been lighting up the court since, and that’s why he’s been nicknamed “Hillbilly Kobe” and “AR-15″—both of which sound like new country music hits waiting to happen!
Austin Reaves Career
Reaves was a big fish in a small pond, starting high school at Cedar Ridge in Newark. In fact, he was almost the entire pond! He led his teams to a couple of back-to-back state titles and made the highlight reels with his incredible plays. His Wichita State college career started rocky, due to a shoulder injury, but once he came back into the game, off the charts was the big return. He dribbled in for 23 dizzying points against Tulsa, proving that nothing could deter him-not even an injury that might make even the toughest guys turn green.
Even after rejoining the Oklahoma Sooners, Reaves continued to impress with an average of a very good 18.3 points per game in his final season. Still, disappointment awaited him once again at the 2021 NBA draft. It was like an “universe plot twist.” But the Lakers scooped him up, and the rest is history! His first game of the 2023 NBA playoffs on April 16, 2023 saw the young lad put 23 points for the team’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and suddenly, he became the talk of the town at least for his mom’s Facebook friends!
Austin Reaves Net Worth
With a net worth of approximately $4 million as of 2024, Austin Reaves is a not-bad-looking guy considering he was undrafted not too long ago. His main source of revenue comes from his contract with the Lakers, like winning the lottery-if the lottery were a brutal sport requiring you to run up and down a court while avoiding collisions with giant human beings.
Reaves signed a four-year deal worth nearly $53.8 million, an average annual salary of $13.5 million. He’s going to make $12 million in base salary in the 2023-24 season. So you might say the “undrafted” part of this kid’s background is sort of beside the point. In essence, he’s making money like a league starter, demonstrating that hard work is an equalizer, even when every single scout says no in the draft.
And if that weren’t enough, Reaves also became the first NBA player to receive an endorsement deal with Rigorer, a Chinese shoe company. That’s like a slam dunk in the fashion world but in scoring the winning basket.
Austin Reaves Age
Today, Austin Reaves is only 26 years old. Most men at this age are trying to figure out how to become adults, whereas he is out on the court as a professional basketball player and raking in the dollars. It’s like he took the concept of “finding yourself” and turned it into “finding my jump shot.” And honestly, most guys who are 26 still can’t figure out how to fold a fitted sheet, and Reaves is getting outscored by some of the more established players in the NBA.
Austin Reaves Family: Parents
Austin’s parents, Brian Reaves and Nicole Wilkett, have basketball in their blood. In fact, they both played at Arkansas State-it’s almost like family history! His mom was an All-Conference Forward, racking up 21.3 points a game, while his dad accumulated a whopping 384 career assists. You could say Austin was born for basketball. Family dinners must be pretty competitive, with everyone arguing over whose shot form is better or whose stats are the most impressive.
But beyond the basketball prowess, they have provided Austin with the support any aspiring athlete needs. From constructive post-game criticism to an enthusiastic cheer from the sidelines, they have been his biggest fans–likely donning matching jerseys at every opportunity.
Austin Reaves Height and Weight
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, or 1.96 meters, and weighing in at around 196 pounds with a sturdy build weighing in at 89 kg, Austin Reaves is built like a professional athlete—because, well, he is one! His 6 feet 5-inch height gives him an advantage above most defenders on the court to soar up and shoot some pretty impressive shots. He is a shooting guard with the size and versatility that makes him valuable to the Lakers.
Also Read: Lidia Thorpe Net Worth 2024: How much is the Senator of Australia Worth?
