Austin Reaves is 28 years old and was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas. The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard stands 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall and wears No. 15 for the team he joined as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Reaves has become one of the Lakers’ most important players, scoring a career-high 51 points against Sacramento on October 26, 2025, and signing a four-year, $185 million max deal with the Lakers in June 2026. On November 8, 2026, he scored 43 points against the Detroit Pistons in a breakout season.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Austin Tyler Reaves |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1998 |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Birthplace | Newark, Arkansas, United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers (No. 15) |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| College | Wichita State (2016-2018); Oklahoma (2019-2021) |
| Known For | NBA Cup champion (2023); 51-point game vs Sacramento |
Who Is Austin Reaves?
Austin Reaves is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers and the Oklahoma Sooners before joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021. In 2023, he won the inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers and represented the United States at the FIBA World Cup, becoming only the third undrafted NBA player to make a U.S. national team.
Reaves is known for his clutch performances and rapid rise from a two-way contract to a max deal. He has hit game-winners against the Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and his 51-point game against Sacramento on October 26, 2025, is the highest-scoring game of his career.
Early Life & Background
Austin Tyler Reaves was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas, and attended Cedar Ridge High School in his hometown. He won back-to-back Class 2A state titles in his first two years of high school and scored 73 points in a triple-overtime win over Forrest City. As a senior, he averaged 32.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game and was named the most valuable player of the state tournament after averaging 43.3 points through four games.
Reaves comes from a basketball family. His parents, Nicole Wilkett and Brian Reaves, both played college basketball at Arkansas State, and his older brother Spencer has played professionally in Germany. His grandmother is German, which allowed Reaves to obtain a German passport in 2022.
Career
Reaves played two seasons at Wichita State, averaging 4.1 points per game as a freshman after shoulder surgery and 8.1 points as a sophomore. He transferred to Oklahoma, sat out a season under transfer rules and gained 20 pounds, then scored a career-high 41 points with a game-winning shot against TCU on March 7, 2020. As a senior, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and was named first-team All-Big 12 before declaring for the 2021 NBA draft.
Reaves declined to be selected 42nd overall by the Detroit Pistons and instead signed a two-way contract with the Lakers on August 3, 2021, converting it to a standard contract on September 27, 2021. He made his NBA debut on October 22, 2021, recorded his first triple-double in the season finale on April 10, 2022, and scored a then-career-high 35 points against Orlando on March 19, 2023. He made his playoff debut on April 16, 2023, scoring 23 points against Memphis, and re-signed with the Lakers on July 6, 2023, on a four-year, $54 million contract. On December 9, 2023, he scored 28 points in the championship game as the Lakers won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.
Reaves continued to grow into a leading scorer, recording a 29-point triple-double against Milwaukee on March 26, 2024, and a game-winning layup with a triple-double against Golden State on Christmas Day 2024. He scored a career-high 45 points against Indiana on February 8, 2025, then broke that mark with 51 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists against Sacramento on October 26, 2025. Three days later, he hit a game-winning buzzer-beating floater against Minnesota. On June 24, 2026, he signed a four-year, $185 million max deal with the Lakers, and on November 8, 2026, he scored 43 points against the Detroit Pistons in a breakout season.
Facts About Austin Reaves
- He scored 73 points in a triple-overtime high school win over Forrest City.
- He declined to be drafted 42nd overall by the Detroit Pistons, choosing to sign with the Lakers instead.
- He was only the third undrafted NBA player to make a U.S. national team, after Ben Wallace and Brad Miller.
- He scored a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings on October 26, 2025.
- He signed a signature shoe deal with Chinese brand Rigorer in March 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Austin Reaves?
Austin Reaves is 28 years old. He was born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas.
How tall is Austin Reaves?
Austin Reaves is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall.
What team does Austin Reaves play for?
Austin Reaves plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he wears No. 15 and plays shooting guard. He joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
How many points did Austin Reaves score against Detroit on November 8, 2026?
Austin Reaves scored 43 points against the Detroit Pistons on November 8, 2026, in a breakout season.
What is Austin Reaves’ contract with the Lakers?
Austin Reaves signed a four-year, $185 million max deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on June 24, 2026.