It's hard to imagine that a player like Austin Reeves can adapt to the NBA in such a short period of time and become a top puzzle piece worth nearly 100 million yuan.
Although the Lakers were swept in the Western Conference Finals, it can be seen from the course of the 4 games that the Lakers performed well. Whether it's a major player or a role player, their play is impeccable. Austin Reeves, in particular, showed the demeanor of an All-Star in the playoffs. According to multiple media forecasts, Reeves is likely to get a four-year contract worth $98.68 million.
Yes, the wind-chasing teenager who came out of the farm fulfilled his dream. Reeves came from a remote part of Arkansas and grew up without formal systematic training. Like many fans, he watched highlights of various stars online and then imitated their playing styles, such as Maddie's dry pull and Kobe's backward jumper. This brutal approach to growth fostered Reeves' confident personality, and he often hit some difficult shots, earning him the title of "Country Kobe."
However, at the same time, Reeves' weakness in not being solid enough in basic skills gradually became apparent. In his first two years of college, the team barely devised ball-carrying tactics for him, and it wasn't until he transferred to the University of Oklahoma that Reeves came to prominence. In his final season, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, but due to his age and talent, he ended up being a lost player.
In the 2021 draft, no team was willing to bring Reeves into the NBA. Luckily, he excelled in training camp and got a two-way contract with the Lakers to become the 14th man in the Purple and Gold Legion, also known as the "Patron Saint of the Water Dispenser." Although he is only a temporary worker, for Reeves who came out of the farm, it is already his satisfaction to be able to step on the NBA court, not to mention, he now has opportunities to further develop.
In fact, Reeves has shown a number of unique qualities last season. He is confident, dares to hold the ball, and can break through or shoot dry shots against defenders. While he doesn't have the explosiveness and eye-catching athleticism, smart Reeves always finds a way to create opportunities. This season, Reeves has been given more playing time under Hamm and has often played with James and Davis.
In the regular season, Reeves averaged 13 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range, which was not only comprehensive but also efficient. However, such performance alone is not enough to obtain a high-paying contract that is close to 100 million yuan. In the playoffs, Reeves continued to evolve, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three-point range. He became the third scoring point behind James and Davis in the Lakers.
Especially in the Western Conference Finals, Reeves exploded well, averaging 21 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game, shooting 54.9% from the field, shooting 56% from three-point range and averaging only 1.7 turnovers per game. Reeves became the first player to score 7 20+ points in the playoffs this season.
Under the rules, the Lakers could use early bird rights to offer Reeves a contract of up to $53.3 million for four years. But based on his performance in the playoffs, some teams with salary space are likely to use Arenas terms to make him a higher offer of $98.68 million for 4 years. Whether or not the Lakers match the contract, for Reeves, he has become the biggest winner of the season.