Austin Reaves is set to remain a Los Angeles Laker for the foreseeable future, with the team agreeing to a four-year contract extension valued at $185 million, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The source requested anonymity because the agreement has not yet been made official. The deal marks a significant milestone for Reaves, who solidifies his place among the most accomplished undrafted players in recent NBA history.
Rather than exercising his $14.9 million player option for the coming season, Reaves chose to commit to the franchise that brought him aboard out of Oklahoma following the 2021 draft. The versatile guard has steadily elevated his game each year, emerging as one of the league’s more reliable scorers and playmakers over his five seasons.
Last season, Reaves put up averages of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game — impressive numbers considering he missed extended stretches due to injuries that lingered into the playoffs. He has also built a strong on-court partnership with NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic in the Lakers’ backcourt.
Reaves would have been among the most sought-after free agents available this summer, but instead he stays alongside Doncic as the Lakers and LeBron James sort out their futures. Los Angeles is also working through contract situations with impending free agents Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes.
After the Lakers — who won the Pacific Division — were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, general manager Rob Pelinka signaled that keeping Reaves was a top priority, noting that both sides had essentially already committed to working out an extension. A native of Arkansas who grew up rooting for the Lakers, Reaves has become a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
Pelinka summed up the mutual commitment, saying: “He started his journey here as a Laker, and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker. And we feel the same way.”
