Lakers News: How Austin Reaves Evolved Into A Key Secondary Playmaker For LA

LA's starting shooting guard has a key

Los Angeles Lakers starting shooting guard Austin Reaves has had quite the ascent over the past two seasons.

He went from signing a training camp deal as an undrafted free agent, to a two-way contract, to joining the 2021-22 club's 15-man standard roster during the 2021 offseason. He emerged as LA's starting two-guard for the club's final ten games of the 2022-23 regular season, and now seems in line for a big pay upgrade as a restricted free agent this summer. 

Beyond being a solid defender and shooter during his sophomore season, Reaves has exhibited a lot of ability as a passer and ball-handler.

When asked about his comfort level as a playmaker, Reaves was quick to note that enjoyed spending more time with the rock in his hands for an LA team whose point guard position has been a bit in flux. For now, at least, Reaves is the team's starting shooting guard, albeit with a bit of an extra handle.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves sits down with @Stadium: “I want to be a Laker, so hopefully we can get this done and I can stay there for hopefully my whole career.” On upcoming free agency, a special 2021 training camp moment, surprising his opponents, much more: pic.twitter.com/sa83nlnatT

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 10, 2023

"Even going back as far as I can remember, I was never really the best player on any of my teams, other than I think two years in high school and my last year at Oklahoma," Reaves said. "Kind of always, my job was to facilitate and get other people going, so it goes back to my ninth-grade year... it's kind of just translated to this."

Reaves discussed how he earned his teammates' trust ahead of his rookie season, in LA's first training camp session in Las Vegas circa 2021.

"We were doing a two-on-one, three-on-two back transition drill the first day we were playing up and down a little bit... I got a rebound and I remember... my life literally went in slow motion, I got a rebound and I looked to my right. Russ [Westbrook] was running the right wing, and [LeBron James] was running the left wing. Literally everything stopped and I was like, 'I should give one of these guys the ball and get out of the way.' 

"I come down and [Rajon] Rondo's guarding me, I was like, 'Whatever.' So I made a move, got past Rondo and I had a lane, I was about to try to dunk it, but I see [Anthony Davis] coming to block it. I freaked out, I was like, 'I ain't going to get this up.' So I turned mid-air, and thank god 'Bron cut down the middle of the lane. Threw it to him, and he dunked it. And after that, everything kind of settled down, I was very comfortable. I was like, 'I can play with these guys.'"

"Coach Frank [Vogel] called me up to his office and he was like, 'I want you to basically be around Rondo every second of every day you're here, asking whatever.' So he was big for me last year, pushing me to be better and also teaching me on the way."

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