Having become “usable”, Austin Reaves does not want to burden the coffers of the Lakers

Twice, in a few days, Austin Reaves returned home with the match ball. The hero of the successful first week of the Lakers, the back shines at the beginning of the season and almost made us forget LeBron James ! Immediately behind Luka Dončić, he turns 30.3 points on averageand rightly bet on him by turning down an offer from the Lakers this summer: 89 million in four years. This was the maximum offer available at the time.

Austin Reeves politely ignored this contract and will receive $15 million this year before becoming a free agent next July. This time, he’ll be able to sign wherever he wants, and the Lakers know they’ll have to offer a lot more. Some even envision it peaking at 241 million over five years in Los Angeles, or 178 million over four years elsewhere.

“I’ve said it a million times: I want to be in LA”

Astronomical contract, the largest ever signed by an undrafted player. But Austin Reeves doesn’t want to deal with money.

“I try not to think about it. Honestly. I’ve said it a million times: I want to be in LA, I love it,” confides that ESPN. “Even if the second extension is rejected, it doesn’t mean I want to get a freaking monster contract that doesn’t make any sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do whatever I can to help make this franchise better. So I try not to think about all that.”

This will appease its leaders, but also JJ Redick who has to think about the post-LeBron era. The Lakers coach continues to be incredibly lucky, from Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić are accomplices on the field as well as in life. They hold a press conference and increase the number of kicking contests. The pleasure of playing together will weigh on Austin Reeves’ decision.

Establish yourself as a leader

“The most important thing was that he took a step forward as a leader and realized that this team was his as much as it was LeBron’s or Luke’s.” explains the Lakers coach. “And that he recognizes that he naturally possesses leadership qualities, that he learns to use them more consistently. I told him: there are no more excuses. He is no longer an unprepared guy, a young player. He is now one of the pillars of the team and he responded very well to that.”

Austin Reeves assures that the message has been sent. His stats and his attitude back that up, and now he knows his teammates are counting on him as a leader.

“Basically, coach took me aside and said, ‘Obviously it’s not all up to you, but take responsibility. Be a leader.’ His speech kept coming up: ‘Your teammates love you’, although I don’t know if that’s true, but he kept telling me… ‘Gone are the days when you were in the shadows. You have to take responsibility, speak up and be the leader of this team.’ »