Introduction
Austin Reaves is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas. Reaves played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, where he was a standout player. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at Austin Reaves’ stats and his journey to the NBA.
College Career
Reaves played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2018 to 2021. In his first season, he played in 32 games and averaged 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. In his sophomore season, Reaves started in all 31 games and averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team for his efforts.
Reaves continued to improve in his junior season, averaging 18.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and was a finalist for the Jerry West Award, which is given to the best shooting guard in college basketball.
Reaves’ senior season was his best yet, as he averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He was once again named to the All-Big 12 First Team and was a finalist for the Wooden Award, which is given to the best player in college basketball.
NBA Career
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Reaves signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his NBA debut on October 19, 2021, against the Golden State Warriors and scored 9 points in 11 minutes of play. Reaves has played in 25 games so far this season and is averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
Shooting
One of Reaves’ strengths is his shooting ability. In his senior season at Oklahoma, he shot 44.3% from the field, 79.5% from the free-throw line, and 38.0% from beyond the arc. In the NBA, Reaves has continued to shoot well, averaging 40.0% from the field, 81.3% from the free-throw line, and 36.4% from three-point range.
Defense
Reaves is also known for his defensive skills. In his junior season at Oklahoma, he averaged 1.4 steals per game and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. In the NBA, Reaves has continued to be a solid defender, averaging 0.6 steals per game and providing hustle and energy on the defensive end.
Conclusion
Austin Reaves has had a promising start to his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. His shooting ability and defensive skills make him a valuable asset to the team. As he continues to gain experience, it will be interesting to see how his stats develop over time.
