Austin Reaves is officially kicking off year one of a four-year, $184 million deal with the Lakers, a contract that finally reflects his undeniable status as one of the NBA’s better guards. No more two-way deals or that previous four-year, $54 million contract that was clearly a steal considering he was already among L.A.’s top players. Now, the man is getting paid what he’s worth, and it’s about damn time.
The Payday He Deserves
We’ve all watched Reaves climb the ranks, proving himself night after night. Last offseason, he inked this monster deal, and it’s a huge step up from the contracts he’s had before. You’d think a payday like that would pile on the pressure, right? Everyone in the league, every fan, is gonna look at those numbers and expect even more. But Reaves? He’s completely unbothered by that noise. This guy is all about winning games and figuring out how to contribute, whatever it takes. Forget the box-score stats; if the team wins, that’s what matters to him.
“It Doesn’t Really Matter To Me”
Reaves laid it all out at Media Day last week on ESPN LA radio, and his mindset is straight fire. “It doesn’t really matter to me. In a sense, there has to be. I would assume that people would look at it that way, but at the end of the day, like, I got to go out there and play basketball and I’ve been playing basketball for 15 years now,” he said. “It’s the same thing I’ve done since I was a kid and I’m going to enjoy it the way that I’ve always enjoyed it. The main thing is winning. If you go out there and win, nobody really , if I have 15 points and we win, it’s better than me having 30 [points] and losing. So just figuring out how to win games and win games at the highest level is the main thing for me.” That’s the kind of competitor you want leading your squad, someone who puts the team’s success above individual numbers.
The Luka Magic Connection
It’s absolutely natural for expectations to shoot through the roof with a contract like that, but it’s equally natural for Reaves to tune out all that external chatter. When he wasn’t battling injuries, his 2025-26 season was absolutely tremendous. He showed off some seriously encouraging chemistry with Luka Dončić, especially on the offensive end. If he can stay healthy and keep playing at that level, delivering those clutch moments and that seamless connection with Dončić, the Lakers are going to stack up wins. That’s exactly what Reaves wants, and it’s what every fan expects from a player carrying that kind of contract. This season is going to be a huge test, but if his approach is any indication, Reaves is ready to deliver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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