History of Austin Reaves in Timeline

Austin Reaves is a professional basketball player currently playing as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, he signed with the Lakers, quickly establishing himself as a reliable contributor through his high basketball IQ, playmaking abilities, and scoring efficiency. Known for his resilience and grittiness, Reaves evolved from a two-way contract player into a key rotation piece and a fan favorite. His breakout performances in the NBA playoffs solidified his role as a crucial secondary playmaker alongside the team's superstars. Beyond his club career, he has also represented the United States in international FIBA competitions. Reaves is widely regarded as one of the league's most successful undrafted success stories, characterized by his versatile skill set and ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes environments.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 29, 1998: Birth of Austin Reaves

On May 29, 1998, Austin Tyler Reaves was born, marking the beginning of the life of the future professional basketball player.

Others born on this day/year

2002: Ben Wallace's U.S. National Team Appearance

In 2002, Ben Wallace made history by becoming one of the rare undrafted NBA players to represent the U.S. national team.

2006: Brad Miller's U.S. National Team Appearance

In 2006, Brad Miller followed in the footsteps of previous players by being selected for the U.S. national team despite being an undrafted NBA player.

January 20, 2016: Commitment to Wichita State University

On January 20, 2016, Austin Reaves formally committed to playing collegiate basketball for the Wichita State Shockers, choosing them over other scholarship offers from South Dakota State and Arkansas State.

January 28, 2018: Record-breaking performance against Tulsa

On January 28, 2018, Austin Reaves recorded a sophomore season-high of 23 points and four assists during a 90–71 victory over Tulsa. During this game, he set a Wichita State program record by making seven three-pointers in a single half.

March 7, 2020: Career-High Performance Against TCU

On March 7, 2020, Austin Reaves achieved a career-high 41 points, along with six assists and five rebounds, while leading a 19-point second-half comeback that culminated in a game-winning shot against TCU.

December 6, 2020: Senior Season-High Scoring Output

During a matchup on December 6, 2020, Reaves recorded 32 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, contributing to an 82–78 victory for his team against TCU.

August 3, 2021: Signing with the Los Angeles Lakers

On August 3, 2021, after going undrafted and declining a selection by the Detroit Pistons, Austin Reaves officially signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

2021: Declaration for the NBA Draft

On March 31, 2021, Austin Reaves officially declared for the 2021 NBA draft, effectively ending his collegiate basketball career and choosing to forgo his remaining eligibility.

April 10, 2022: First Career Triple-Double

During the Lakers' season finale on April 10, 2022, Austin Reaves recorded the first triple-double of his career, contributing 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in an overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets.

2022: Beginning of Consecutive Start Streak

During the 2022 season, Austin Reaves began a stretch of performance that would eventually contribute to a 34-game consecutive starting streak, which continued into the 2023–24 season.

2022: Acquisition of German Passport

In 2022, Austin Reaves secured a German passport, a move made possible due to his grandmother's German heritage.

2022: Usage of Rigorer footwear

Throughout the 2022 season, Austin Reaves wore footwear produced by the brand Rigorer while on the court.

March 2023: Signature shoe deal with Rigorer

In March 2023, Austin Reaves officially entered into a signature shoe partnership with the Chinese sports apparel company Rigorer.

March 19, 2023: Career-High Performance Against Orlando Magic

On March 19, 2023, Austin Reaves set a then career-high record by scoring 35 points, alongside six rebounds and six assists, while playing off the bench to help the Los Angeles Lakers secure a 111–105 victory over the Orlando Magic. Notably, Reaves accounted for the team's final 10 points of the game.

July 6, 2023: Contract Renewal with Los Angeles Lakers

On July 6, 2023, Austin Reaves officially signed a new four-year, $54 million contract to continue his professional basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

August 2023: Release of AR1 signature shoe

The AR1, Austin Reaves' first signature sneaker, was officially launched in August 2023 through the online platform Kicks Crew.

December 9, 2023: Lakers Win NBA In-Season Tournament

On December 9, 2023, Austin Reaves contributed 28 points as a substitute player to help lead the Los Angeles Lakers to victory in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament championship game against the Indiana Pacers.

2023: International Basketball Participation

During 2023, Reaves initially considered playing for the German national basketball team but ultimately decided to compete for the United States national team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

2023: Spencer Reaves' Professional Basketball Career Update

During the 2023–24 period, Austin Reaves' brother, Spencer Reaves, continued his professional basketball journey by playing for the German team Rasta Vechta.

2023: Selection to 2023 U.S. National Team

In 2023, Austin Reaves was selected to compete for the U.S. national team in the FIBA World Cup, becoming only the third undrafted player in NBA history to achieve this honor.

January 31, 2024: Season-High Performance Against the Hawks

On January 31, 2024, Austin Reaves recorded a season-high 28 points, alongside six assists and two steals, despite the Los Angeles Lakers suffering a 138–122 defeat against the Atlanta Hawks.

February 1, 2024: Career-High Three-Pointers Against the Celtics

On February 1, 2024, Reaves achieved a new career high by hitting seven three-pointers and scoring 32 total points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114–105 victory over the Boston Celtics.

December 25, 2024: Game-Winning Triple-Double vs. Golden State Warriors

On December 25, 2024, Austin Reaves recorded a triple-double consisting of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, capped by a game-winning layup that secured a 115–113 victory for the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors.

January 17, 2025: Career-High Scoring Performance vs. Brooklyn Nets

On January 17, 2025, Austin Reaves achieved a new career high by scoring 38 points during a closely contested 102–101 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

April 3, 2025: Austin Reaves' Historic Performance Against the Warriors

On April 3, 2025, Austin Reaves recorded 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in a game against the Golden State Warriors. During this performance, he successfully made 9 three-pointers, largely during the fourth quarter, and surpassed Kobe Bryant for the second-most three-point field goals in a single season in Los Angeles Lakers franchise history.

October 26, 2025: Career-High Scoring Performance Against the Kings

On October 26, 2025, Austin Reaves delivered a standout performance, recording 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in a 127–120 victory over the Sacramento Kings. This performance marked a new career-high in points, made him the eighth Laker to record 20 or more free throws in a game, and saw him reach the milestone of 500 career three-pointers.

June 24, 2026: Austin Reaves signs record-breaking contract with the Lakers

On June 24, 2026, Austin Reaves secured a significant professional milestone by signing a four-year, $185 million maximum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, establishing the richest deal in NBA history for an undrafted player.