Austin Reaves has been one of the best products for the Los Angeles Lakers that could come out last season. The 17-time champions team had a miraculous turnaround the previous season. They came very close to winning it all. However, the LA side could not go past the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets. But the front office showed faith in the core in the offseason free agency. Moreover, the Oklahoma Sooners kid became the third most essential player of the team behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis only in his second NBA season.
Since then, AR has been getting celebrity treatment from the Lakers fans everywhere in the globe. He even launched his signature shoe line recently. Currently, the Hillbilly Kobe is doing his best for the USA side in the FIBA World Cup. Thus, fans are showing a lot of love to Austin Reaves, and the Oklahoma Sooners kid surely appreciates the love he is getting. In an interview after the USA vs. Philippines game, Austin Reaves mentioned how it felt to get the loudest ovation from the Philippines fans.
Appreciations From The Crowd Means A Lot To Austin Reaves
As per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Austin Reaves accepts that he hails from a very small town. He used to watch the World Cup and the Olympic games intently as a kid. Hence, he cherishes every moment nowadays when he wakes up. The Oklahoma Sooners kid believes not many people had faith in him representing the country someday. Hence, these love and ovations mean a lot to Austin Reaves. It is really special to see the way the crowd has accepted the Lakers breakout star of the last season.
Austin got to play for more than 19 minutes against Team New Zealand. He helped Team USA beat the New Zealand side 99-72. He scored 12 points, 3 steals and six assists. There is no doubt why the Lakers see Reaves as their third most essential player. Without Reaves, the Lakers are 13-26 over two seasons. But with him, the LA side is 63-62. Last season, AR averaged 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.4 apg. He took his game to a whole other level in the playoffs with his consistency. That’s why the Lakers will need Austin Reaves more than ever next season.
Lakers Nation Is Glad To See The Front Office Retain AR Pretty Easily
The Oklahoma Sooners kid was heading toward free agency. But the Lakers re-signed him for another four years, and his contract extension is worth $56 million. The fans and perhaps even the LA front office expected some competition from teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets. Needless to say, the Lakers got Reaves with a cheaper deal than even what they expected.
However, AR was a restricted free agent. Hence, the Lakers would try to match any deal other teams would offer him. Other teams like the Spurs, the Magic, and the Rockets had bigger cap space than the Lakers. However, Reaves, the front office, the roster, and the fans are all happy with the contract extension.
