There are few things Austin Reaves is more willing to do than appear on a fellow Lakers’ podcast.
Reaves was a frequent guest on D’Angelo Russell’s podcast, appeared on JJ Redick’s podcast prior to him becoming head coach and, on Tuesday, completed a trifecta by joining LeBron James and Steve Nash for the latest episode of “Mind the Game.”
It was an episode full of fun tidbits and anecdotes with lots of discussion about basketball as well, which comes with any episode of “Mind the Game.”
For those who
may have missed the interview or are looking for a recap, we have you covered with all the best moments.
Turning down a “dream” to join Lakers
Off the rip, the episode immediately dives into Austin turning down the opportunity to be drafted and join the Lakers on a two-way deal instead. Most of it was not new information as it’s been reported he turned down being drafted by the Pistons to go undrafted and join the Lakers.
He’s also discussed making a list of teams that were the best fit with the Lakers topping the list and the Bucks being second. When asked about it by Nash, Reaves dove a little deeper into everything.
“My agents, they set up a plan. The plan was we knew LA had a two-way open on draft night and knew it was a situation to where I could possibly step in and get a contract because I don’t know how many guys were actually under contract at that time. There were a lot of free agents, a lot of signings to be done. We knew that going in.
[Detroit] called at [pick No.] 42 and they came up to me and it’s every kid’s dream to hear their name called on draft night and I’m no different. But it came down to sticking to a plan and that’s what we did. It sucked to not hear my name called but, obviously, putting ourselves in a good position was much more important.”
The little tidbit about the Lakers having lots of free agents and, as a result, a clearer opportunity for him to make the roster was some great insight by his agency. And he wasn’t wrong. In free agency in the summer of 2021, the Lakers signed Carmelo Anthony, Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, Dwight Howard, Kendrick Nunn, Rajon Rondo and Deandre Jordan.
So, only a couple of players.
Reaves talked a little bit more about the list his agency made and why they felt it would work in Los Angeles.
“They have a bunch of analytics guys that were grading teams…I think it was Lakers, Bucks, maybe one other team that was Tier 1, like best possible fit…So, kind of dove into that and listened to that. On another level, like we talked about, there was maybe like four or five guys under contract at the time because they ended up having to sign like seven guys.
Knowing that there was going to be a possibility to snag that 13th, 14th roster spot and then on top of that, like [LeBron], IQ level, I feel like I have a pretty good IQ for the game and felt like that was one way I could get my foot in the door was to lean on that and lean on just knowing the game of basketball and that’s what he does.”
Making it on the Lakers
Reaves’ origin story with the Lakers has been well-documented. At the team’s player mini-camp, Reaves was so impressive that he earned a standard deal before training camp even began. He spoke about that mini-camp and the role both LeBron and Anthony Davis played in his ascension.
“We get in the gym and I think we got to playing 3-on-3 or something. I got a couple buckets then drove downhill. I thought I had a layup then AD came out of nowhere and I was like, ‘Oh, f—’ and last second, kind of behind-the-back pass to [LeBron]. He come down the lane and dunked. It was just, from then on out, they were like, ‘You’re good. Just be yourself.’ Him and AD, I’ll give them all the credit I can give them, from day one of being like, ‘Be you. On the court, off the court, whatever it is, be you.’”
Prior to even taking the court with him, LeBron had watched film of Austin in college and had an…interesting takeaway.
An upbringing in basketball and a big choice
Something Reaves talked about on the show that he had not previously mentioned was his upbringing. Both of his parents played basketball at Arkansas State, which is where they met. His brother, Spencer, played at a Division II school, Central Missouri.
As for Reaves? Well, he almost didn’t pursue basketball at all and wouldn’t have if his family had it’s preference. As a kid, Reaves played both basketball and baseball. But, entering the seventh grade, Reaves’ father told him he needed to pick one so that he could focus on that sport and, ultimately, get his college education paid for.
Following a summer of basketball with his older brother, Reaves made his choice, but it wasn’t the choice his father would have made.
“We had a summer basketball camp and I moved up two grades to play with my brother and we were beating teams by 30 and I was like, ‘Oh, this is much faster. Baseball is kind of slow.’ So I went back to my dad and I was like, ‘I want to play basketball’ and he was like, ‘You’re f—— stupid’ and I was like, ‘Damn.’
But he was like, ‘Obviously, you got my support.’…He thought I was a better baseball player. I was small. I didn’t grow until my junior year of high school. At the time, I understand why [he thought I should play baseball]. My best friend’s dad, which was our baseball coach, we were driving home, he was taking me home and I told him I was quitting baseball and he told me that basketball wasn’t going to work out and I was like ‘Well, we’ll see.’”
I think basketball worked out for Reaves.
Despite his parents playing basketball, it was Austin’s brother who played the biggest role in his early basketball career. Austin described his older brother as a gym rat who was driving to get shots up at 12 or 13 years old — which Reaves then quickly acknowledged was “probably illegal” — and brought his younger sibling with him.
“I remember there was nights that he would be going to the gym at seven, eight o’clock at night and he’d be like, ‘Hey, you want to go?’ And I was like, ‘Eh, not really’ and he’d be like, ‘You’re coming anyway.’ Like, I had no choice. He’d drag me out of the house. We’d go shoot for a couple hours and then he’d just beat me really bad 1-on-1…He’s probably the biggest basketball influence in my life. He instilled work ethic.”
That led to him landing at Wichita State and, eventually, Oklahoma. It was with the Sooners that Reaves realized he could make it in the NBA after legendary head coach Lon Kruger told him he could be a first round pick. Reaves, in fact, was not a first round pick, but if you ask LeBron James, there’s a clear and obvious reason why.
“You know why. You know why. You know how that s— is. Because they look at him. The judge the book by it’s cover situation. I saw the talent. That guy that I’m seeing [in college film] is not an undrafted [player]. There’s not way that guy goes undrafted. But, it’s – come on man.”
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
Coming up in the clutch
The last notable discussion to come out of the pod was a segment on playing in clutch moments. Reaves has thrived in them throughout his career — this episode was even filmed before his heroics against the Nuggets — and has not shied away from those moments.
Perhaps the biggest play in the clutch he’s made this season was the game-winner in Minnesota, which he discussed.
Very interestingly, that led to LeBron talking about how hard he would be on himself during clutch moments when he didn’t come through early in his career and how he came to accept the pressure of those moments.
“Early on in my career, I always hated the feeling of letting my teammates down. If I missed or whatever, if I turned the ball over, if I didn’t make the right play either shot or pass or whatever, I was like, ‘F—, I let these guys down. They trusted me to make it happen and I didn’t make it happen.’
Early on in my career, that really got to me. Then I just got to a point where it was like they’re putting you in this position because they trust you for a reason.”
The Lakers have continued to trust in Reaves throughout his career and he has rewarded them time and time again.
The trio finished the episode looking at some clips and breaking down Austin’s game before going back to an old classic between LeBron and Reaves.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
