“You Got Your Contract”: $56 Million Rich Austin Reaves Asked to Step Up After Getting Mauled by Kevin Durant in Lakers Home Opener

Arkansas boy, Austin Reaves, really had to overcome a lot to reach the point he is at now. Going undrafted until no. 42, only to be approached by the Pistons with a half-hearted offer to be the next era of the Lakers’ top names, Reaves has certainly come a long way. With the King himself giving his vote of confidence, Austin’s confidence is soaring.

As a final step, the Lakers signed him on a four-year $56 million contract. But with the uphill graph that Reaves has going on at the moment comes responsibilities. And now, many want to see more out of Reaves.

Austin Reaves is under scrutiny after the Lakers’ contract

It would seem like the King has taken quite a liking to the 25-year-old. There have been many occasions on the court where Bron has opened up opportunities for the young guard to take a shot. Even after that, we can see him giving him valuable advice and tips and tricks to better his game. Of course, Reaves absorbs it all like a sponge.

However, according to Jay Williams of Get Up (ESPN), “[Reaves] Got your contract, you deserved it, now it’s time.”

That is not to say that just because Reaves was handed a $56 million deal, now he has to put in the effort. No, that contract was a recognition of his efforts. But the Lakers guided by LeBron James are nearing the end and the next in line would be Davis and Reaves. If Austin’s performance during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Club was anything to go by, we can expect great things from him.

According to StatMuse, Austin’s scores reflect an aggressive and dominant side, as opposed to the typically quiet and obliging nature. There are points that Reaves has to work on, particularly when it comes to guarding players like Kevin Durant.

Why Reaves is the perfect choice for the Lakers?

When LA fans saw Austin Reaves on the floor for the first time, it was with concern. But once the game started, it was clear that Reaves was unlike any other player they had ever seen. With a calmness and composure that rivals a Zen monk, Reaves kept a steady rhythm to his shots, assists, and blocks.

Read More: Austin Reaves Emphasizes Overcoming Lakers’ “Weaknesses”, After Giving Flowers to Stephen Curry and Co

Any onlooker would have a hard time believing it was, in fact, his first time in a high-pressure atmosphere. But that’s just one of his more incredible skills. LeBron himself has lauded Reaves’s basketball IQ shortly after the Lakers offered him a permanent position. With the talent pool that the Lakers boast, Austin’s distinctive athleticism, and shooting stroke, coupled with high IQ, can prove to be too much for any opposing team.

Davis is pretty much booked to be the next face of the franchise. And between the future and the glorious past, can Austin become the present of the Lakers?

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