Austin Reaves enters the 2025–26 NBA season coming off a career year in which he averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 73 games while shooting 46% from the floor and 37.7% from three.
He has steadily seen his usage increase every season since joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and remains part of Los Angeles’ future plans, or so it would seem.
Reaves signed a four-year, $53.8 million deal with the Lakers in 2023, but because of the timing and rules tied to that deal, the Lakers could only offer a limited (roughly 40%) raise in a short-term extension this upcoming summer.
Los Angeles reportedly presented a four-year extension that would have paid him $89.2 million over the next four seasons, but Reaves turned it down, electing instead to preserve flexibility and position himself for unrestricted free agency in 2026.
In an August interview published by The Athletic on Monday, Reaves said he told Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and president Jeanie Buss he appreciated the organization but felt the extension number wasn’t the right fit for his market value, while also expressing a desire to remain in L.A.
“I expressed that. Like, it was, ‘Y’all gave me an opportunity. Rob, you gave me an opportunity. Jeanie, you’ve treated my family amazing,’” Reaves said. “Everything we’ve wanted, needed since we’ve been here, you’ve taken care of. And we appreciate y’all of that. But we didn’t think that the number was the right number.
“That’s not saying that we’re gonna go search for a number that’s out of the world. I want to be in L.A. I want to continue to play Virginia Country Club on off days,” Reaves added. “It’s not like we’re trying to just whack ’em over the head for more money than what I deserve. We just want to get what we feel like I’ve put the work in to get. … I feel like I could be an All-Star.”
Coaches and teammates have repeatedly praised Reaves’ offseason work and readiness. Coach JJ Redick even told reporters on Thursday that he has been “the best player in the gym” at times and that “It’s evident that he spent a lot of time working on his body this summer.”
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