This past season, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was teammates with Patrick Beverley and D’Angelo Russell at different times. It allowed both to get an up close and personal look at not only Reaves’ game but also his personality.
Reaves had a banner 2022-23 campaign as he greatly tapped into his potential and became arguably the third-best player on his team. He raised his game as the year went on, and he saved some of his best play for the Lakers’ playoff run into the Western Conference Finals.
While on “The Pat Bev Pod,” Russell had some glowing things to say about the undrafted player.
Via Fadeaway World:
“Killer. Killer. Oh my god [Austin Reaves] is a killer… He kind of always felt like ‘Yeah, I can do that. I’m built like that.’… They probably discredit him because of his skin color, but he got game.”
Beverley then took to social media to agree with Russell’s take.
Factual https://t.co/tiNBuH6gSS
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) August 5, 2023
At age 25 and armed with a new four-year contract worth over $50 million, perhaps Reaves is just getting started with being a lethal player.
Reaves responds to Russell's comment
Reaves reciprocated after Russell praised him by talking about his experience playing AAU basketball and apparently being underestimated.
Via Fadeaway World:
“I played one year of AAU and I’d get on the court,” Reaves said, via NBC Sports. “Then everyone would say ‘I got the white boy.’ And 3 or 4 possessions later, I’m giving them hell.”
Reaves is going to give opponents hell for years to come, especially if a recent report saying the Lakers plan to expand his offensive role is true.
