There are unexplained things in this sport. In the age of advanced statistics, where everything is measured and named, there are still players whose mere presence changes the course of a match. These drivers don’t have to be stars, or even defensive specialists or vocal leaders. They are, rather, those who bear his epithet The X Factor. Players who provide that extra you’re born with and can’t learn. Intensity, effort, dedication, giving meaning and balance to almost every line-up and nullifying its factor mismatch for all they add to the team. Any self-respecting team in today’s NBA should have one Los Angeles Lakers it is said Austin Reeves someone with a very special story and an atypical path to becoming a Los Angeles fan favorite.
Born in the middle of nowhere Reaves grew up under baseball, a sport he practiced until exhaustion, so much so that he hated it around the age of 13. Austin never missed an opportunity to go play. Free time? He was holding the bat and the glove. Summer? To run from base to base. There came a point that was too much for this teenager. His friends had switched to basketball, a practice he was familiar with, but because of his small stature was, to a certain extent, forbidden to him. The luck he wanted this, in the middle of that farming zone of his Arkansas, Reaves found a place to grow as a player. His physical conditions for this sport were not optimal for this game. Thin, short and not at all muscularunlike that of his brother Spencer, who passed through Burgos in 2021, Austin solved this physical deficiency with delivery and work
Throughout his career at his institute, Mr Cedar RidgeAustin Reaves drove it Timberwolves to two Division 3A state titles. It was there that the figure of Reeves was born, which turned into a kind of local legend, the result of memorable performances, such as 73 points in triple overtime in 2015. His final year was his most brilliant, reaching the 32.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists average, enough to earn a full scholarship to Wichita State, unfortunately leaving out the universities of Arkansas.
The young man believed in the future and his potential. His eyes were on the business world, but unlike his brother, Austin looked at the NBA with desire.
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In Wichita State he thought he was right Experienced coach, freshman minutes, bigger role in sophomore year… But no, the situation for the player was far from ideal. Forced to play without the ball, Reaves had to take on a completely opposite role from the one he previously inhabited in Arkansas. In addition, the university newspaper, Litmus, put too much pressure on the young man based on the criticism. While Reeves wanted to downplay that, there’s no doubt it played a big part in the decision to go from there. Austin wanted out, he needed a change, something that would help him get closer to fulfilling his dream. Then came the University of Oklahoma.
Nearly 6 hours away from his hometown of Newark, Austin Reeves was reunited with the love of his life: basketball. The junior, due to NCAA rules, he had to spend a whole season in whitea pivotal moment in his life that allowed him to polish his game until he practically lived in the school gym.
A year later, Raves exploded.
In this enclave of the university world, from which stars such as Trae Young or Blake Griffin emerged, the escort let the rest of the world know that what she had seen in high school was not casual. He had talent, attitude and ability for the highest level.
“It’s always been my mindset: shut up everyone who doubts me,” he told The Ringer in 2021.
After completing his university course, his environment was clear that his future was to cross the pond and play in Europe. Austin wasn’t so sure. There were some NBA teams interested in selecting him sometime in the second round of the 2021 Draft. Which would mean a partially guaranteed contract and no security of being able to play or even make it to the start of the class in October.
“I looked my agent in the eye and said to tell everyone to get out. All my life I was the skinniest, someone not athletic enough and not even very fit. everyone found excuses [para no valorarme]. It’s always been like finding something I can’t help but understand.”he acknowledged last year to the LA Times.
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The plan was to throw away any draft picks in order to double-sign the Lakers, an all too common practice in recent years. The Los Angeles team had none chooses he got to that point, but his bargaining power and the sheer pull of a franchise of this caliber was enough to get a seasoned rookie on his back.
The group of scouting of the Lakers had Reaves among their top targets. Defensively compliant, with the ability to play the role of the microwave and a fantastic shot off the dribble were the reasons behind a stunning decision. More when in between unedited there were shooters like Sam Hauser or Joel Ayayi or great physicists like Yves Pons or Aaron Henry.
“You could tell this is a guy who knows how to play this.” recently recognized Pelinka. “And that’s the type of player you want to bet on. When you get a chance to see a player’s arc, to discover that in the scouting process, it’s really rewarding.”
Given the Lakers’ needs in this 2020-2021 class, Reaves took some time to convert this contract double directioned in a guaranteed and correct NBA. Specifically, 5 of his meetings Summer Leagueincluding a game-winning shot, to convince the leadership of Los Angeles.
“Austin is really smart. Very cerebral,” Lakers assistant Phil Handy said in 2021. “He recognizes things even before I point them out sometimes. To me, that just translates to a guy who’s going to have a long career in this league.”
To succeed in the NBA without landing a poster star, you have to take advantage of it opportunity. This phrase has become a maxim within the league. The occasion seems to come from afar or happen overnight. This could be a game as a starter, a longer rotation than normal, or a shot at a certain time. All these issues came together in his case Austin Reeves and with a winning throw the December 15, 2021 Against the Mavs, the escort definitely earned a spot on the Lakers:
“Austin Reeves 3-pointer…BANG!”
Reeves wins it for @Lakers from deep!! pic.twitter.com/Pxvw3FJcio
—NBA (@NBA) December 16, 2021
Since then his rise has been continuous and without false steps. He contributes in defense thanks to fantastic lateral movement, is quick and intuitive and, in attack, squeezes every ball. Without being an outside expert, Reeves is the player who has the best success rate of the entire team (38%), second only to D’Angelo Russell with just 10 gold and purple matches. All this while the average a 41% from a distance, his fetish area, and an excellent 74.5% between hoop and colorthe best figures for the Lakers ahead of LeBron and Davis, both at 71%.
In some ways, Austin Reaves is reminiscent of a player from another era. almost like a Danny Age updated in the modern context.
A combination of will, need and resistance to what others might think because of their appearance coincides with one of the sensations this season for the Lakers. Reeves is no stranger to a disastrous campaign like the previous one, but he has confirmed his promotion and cementing himself in the team. Complete case with 1Averaged 2.0 points and authored game-winning plays on both ends of the court.
Nearing the end of the final year of his contract, the Arkansas native looks to the future with optimism, knowing that The best are yet to come.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
