Austin Reaves is staying in Los Angeles, and he is doing so on historic terms. The Lakers guard signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history for an undrafted player, and he spoke Monday about what comes next for the franchise.
According to ESPN, Reaves addressed the team's new direction following the departure of LeBron James, who left in free agency. James spent his second stint with the Lakers after first joining the team in 2018, winning a championship with the club in 2020.
Reaves went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2021 and worked his way up from a two-way contract to one of the team's core pieces. He averaged 20.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game last season and became one of the more popular players on the roster.
The size of the contract was not specified in the initial report, but its distinction as the largest ever for an undrafted player marks a notable moment in his career and for the franchise as it moves into a new chapter without James.
