The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> have officially hit rock bottom. They suffered another blowout loss, this time to the Boston Celtics, to take their record to just 5-14. On top of that, both DeMar DeRozan and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zach-lavine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zach LaVine</a> left with injuries, which headlines a bigger concern.



Even though it’s still early in the season, the Bulls are less than likely to turn things around unless they either make some radical lineup changes or change their roster. The front office has Billy Donovan’s back, so a coaching change could be out of the question.



That means the team needs to come to terms with the fact that they just have to trade Zach LaVine, and they cannot have him miss any more games with injuries, as they just drive his trade value down. LaVine has a long history of injuries, and he’s already missed games with knee and foot ailments this season.



And with the Los Ange<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">les Lakers</a> reportedly keeping tabs on his situation, perhaps the Bulls need to start being more careful with their star guard’s minutes and workload.



<h2>Lakers Will Be Patient</h2>



The Lakers got off to a slow start to the season, and while their interest in LaVine has been reported multiple times in the past, they cannot make any big moves right now after making so many signings in the offseason, as they need to wait until those players are eligible to be traded. 



With that in mind, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that they’re going to be quite patient and do their due diligence on any player they potentially trade for this season:



“I think the Lakers will be patient. We saw what happened last year during the season. There was call for changes, Rob Pelinka and that front office they took a more diligent approach,” said Charania. “They pursued Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, but then they went the other route, got a bunch of good role players, assembled a team that was kinda similar to that 2020 championship team, with high level rotation players and they go to the Western Conference Finals.”



<h2>Bulls Want Austin Reaves</h2>



The Bulls are no stranger to the Lakers’ potential interest in LaVine, obviously. According to Charania, they would ask for Austin Reaves in any trade package for their coveted star, assuming the Lakers are willing to pay LaVine’s steep salary.



“I expect them to express interest in Zach LaVine, but he’s making almost $40 million. So to total the salaries to reach that amount in a trade, guys like D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, they are not both trade eligible until mid-January,” added Charania. “The Bulls, I’m sure, would covet Austin Reaves in any potential Zach LaVine trade, as any team would. If you’re the Lakers and you’re out there trying to pursue a third star, whether that’s Zach LaVine, anyone else that becomes available, the player that teams will ask about is Austin Reaves 100%. To this point the Lakers have not been inclined to move Austin Reaves, they didn’t put him in a deal for Kyrie Irving.”



Reaves is a valuable part of the Lakers’ rotation, but he hasn’t played well this season, and he might never turn out to become a star, so the Lakers could actually cave in to these demands if they’re desperate to land LaVine.


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LaVine would uplift the Lakers’ ceiling significantly, at least on offense. As for the Bulls, Reaves could be another solid foundational piece to build around, even if he’s not a franchise-caliber player. 


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="656796d4f2b571abd7e4a2e2" data-title="Should the Bulls trade LaVine?" data-options="2"></div>

Bulls to target Lakers' Austin Reaves in Zach LaVine trade

Bulls to target Lakers' Austin Reaves in Zach LaVine trade - Bolavip US

miniaturas

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> found a very solid player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-reaves" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Austin Reaves</a>. He wasn’t even picked in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft and had to work his way up the rotation, but he’s now a key contributor to the team.



Reaves became the team’s starting shooting guard by the end of the season. More than that, he got a big payday, signing a $50+ million contract to stay with the purple and gold.



That’s what made a young woman realize that she may have made a mistake when she turned him down because she had a boyfriend. In fact, she went viral because of that.



<h2>Woman Goes Viral For ‘Fumbling’ Austin Reaves</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Now he’s making $54M playing alongside LeBron Raymone James, sucks to be you <a href="https://t.co/cRKYKMada1">pic.twitter.com/cRKYKMada1</a>— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/BronGotGame/status/1707084619772793161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



That’s just how life goes at times. In fact, that young girl did exactly what she had to do, which was stay faithful to her partner. But in hindsight, she might not feel the same way.



Besides his $50+ million deal, Reaves also has a signature sneaker deal coming up. He became a fan favorite in Los Angeles and should have plenty of endorsement deals coming his way.


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But hey, who knows? Maybe he doesn’t hold any grudges towards her. She seems to be single now, so maybe the Arkansas product will give her another opportunity.

Girl goes viral for turning down Lakers star Austin Reaves

Girl goes viral for turning down Lakers star Austin Reaves - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves ultimately decided to re-sign with the Lakers, a significant move for a team that reached the Western Conference Finals largely thanks to his contributions. During the 2023 playoffs, he played a key role alongside <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> with an average of 16.9 points.



Despite his commitment to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Lakers</a>, Reaves considered another option as a restricted free agent during the offseason. In an episode of The Lowe Post podcast, he mentioned contemplating the possibility of joining the Spurs to play alongside potential generational talent <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a>.


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The Lakers’ strong inclination to match any offer Reaves received deterred other teams from pursuing him aggressively, he told Zach Lowe. Meanwhile, the player clarified that his preference was to remain in Los Angeles regardless of other offers.



<h2>Reaves Details his Offseason Signing with the Lakers</h2>



“You know, it definitely creeps into your mind, obviously, when there’s, you know, a little bit of talks back and forth about, you know, something possibly coming to light. But I didn’t think there was any way that the Lakers didn’t match what, you know, whatever was offered. They pretty much made it clear that they were gonna match whatever,” Reaves noted.



Reaves’ performances earned him a call-up to play for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. Despite the team’s quarterfinal exit, this experience solidified the fact that he’s more than just a one-season standout. Albeit there may have been thoughts about playing alongside the first overall pick, he chose to remain in his current team.



Reaves provided more insights into his consideration: “You think about it a little bit, but at the end of the day, I wanted to be in L.A. You know you hear things, and obviously with Wembanyama, you know so much upside with him. Your mind kind of just wonders into that basketball world what that would be like.”



<h2>How Much Does Austin Reaves Make?</h2>



Austin Reaves secured a four-year, $53.8 million contract with the Lakers in the offseason.

The Team That Austin Reaves Considered Before Staying with the Lakers

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Reaves Considered Another Team Before Staying in LA - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves Considered Another Team Before Staying with LeBron James at the Lakers

Three years ago, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Austin-Reaves-profile-Age-height-college-parents-girlfriend-and-nationality-20230416-0039.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Austin Reaves</a> wasn’t even sure if he would make it to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>. Now, he’s the starting shooting guard for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and gets to play with LeBron James.



Reaves has worked his way up the pecking order. His work ethic, confidence, and determination to get better every single day have made him a fan favorite in Southern California.



But as good as his season was, he was still shocked to see that Grant Hill called him to join <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors’</a> coach Steve Kerr and represent Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.



<h2>Austin Reaves Was Shocked Team USA Wanted Him</h2>



(Via Lakers Daily)



“He was like, ‘You’re not going to believe this,&apos;” Reaves told the Southern California News Group over the phone this week.



The message: Grant Hill, the managing director of the USA Basketball men’s national team, reached out to offer Reaves a spot on the 12-player Team USA roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which the U.S. will kick off with a first-round matchup against New Zealand on Saturday (5:40 a.m. PT) in the Philippines.



“I was just kind of shocked [at] the moment,” Reaves said. “I didn’t see it coming. I was confident in what I could do basketball-wise but it was something kind of caught me off-guard.”


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Reaves is quite down to Earth and he’s still soaking in all this new-found fame. But judging by the way we’ve seen him in the World Cup, that hasn’t taken a toll on his game whatsoever.

Austin Reaves had an epic reaction to Team USA selection

Austin Reaves had an epic reaction to Team USA selection - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Austin-Reaves-profile-Age-height-college-parents-girlfriend-and-nationality-20230416-0039.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Austin Reaves’</a> meteoric rise to stardom hasn’t stopped for months now. He established himself as the starting shooting guard for the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a>, and is now one of the young faces of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA.</a>



Reaves’ stellar play granted him a spot in Team USA’s roster. That’s something just a handful of young stars can brag about, as notable players like Trae Young and De’Aaron Fox didn’t make the cut.



And now that he’s playing with the creme of the crop and the finest young players in the league, he’s making sure to bring some of them along with him and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> to South Beach.



<h2>Austin Reaves Hints At Recruiting Team USA Players To The Lakers</h2>



“It honestly hasn’t set in really yet,” Reaves told The Athletic of his newly-found fame. “I’m a very low-maintenance person. I like to hang out with my family, golf a lot. But to be in a different country and, you know, I was with my family and I was walking through the hotel and someone was screaming, ‘Austin, hey, can I take a picture?’ For that to happen over here, it’s special to me. I never take any of that for granted.”



“I can’t speak on that,” Reaves said of recruiting players. “But I like some of the guys we’re playing with. So … yeah.”


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Team USA features some very interesting young talents that would look pretty good in Purple and Gold, and it wouldn’t be the first time that the Olympics lead to a superteam in the future, so keep an eye on this generation, Lakers fans.

Austin Reaves is already recruiting Team USA stars to join Lakers

Austin Reaves is already recruiting Team USA stars to join Lakers - Bolavip US

Some <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> fans never truly embraced <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>. They felt like rooting for The King was like betraying their allegiance to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kobe-bryant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kobe Bryant</a>, even though they were never actually rivals.



Diehard Kobe fans wouldn’t give James his flowers, and some even vandalized his murals when he first arrived in Southern California. And while that’s no longer the case for the most part, some will never change his mind.



That’s why a little portion of Lakers fans might not be thrilled to know that Austin Reaves has changed his mind, stating that he considered LeBron to be the greatest player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history.



<h2>Austin Reaves Makes GOAT Case For LeBron James</h2>



“I would start off by saying in my personal opinion, even being a Kobe guy, he is the greatest player to ever play,” Reaves said. “How good he is at all facets of the game. I don’t think anybody’s been that good at everything… Not even basketball-wise.”



“I can pick up the phone and call him whenever… so that’s super cool… On the court, that’s really where it all started,” added Reaves. “We connected early on an IQ level, just playing the game the right way.”


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Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and James has more than enough going on to be considered the best ever. But fans are often irrational, and some may not like this at all.

Some Lakers fans won't like Austin Reaves' take on LeBron James

Some Lakers fans won't like Austin Reaves' take on LeBron James - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> found a diamond in the rough when they got Austin Reaves. He wasn’t even taken in the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> Draft, and he’s now playing for Team USA.



Reaves’ rise to stardom is no coincidence. He’s put in a lot of work to go from a two-way player to secure a big contract in the offseason, and he’s just getting started.



That’s why he’s loving his time with the national team so much. In a recent interview for NBA.com, he opened up on how much he’s learned from every single one of his teammates thus far.



<h2>Austin Reaves Thriving With Team USA</h2>



“A lot, honestly [learning with new teammates], I feel like we’ve gelled really fast as a team,” Reaves said. “I think it shows the way we play the game and you know that’s going to continue to grow as far as we go.”



“That’s the main thing, we know we have a lot of talent, we know what we could do a lot of great things offensively and defensively, but it’s all about becoming one unit and really just going and playing with one another,” he added.


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Reaves has made the most of every learning experience in his career thus far, so he should be poised for another breakout season in 2023-24 after getting to work with some of the best young guys in the game.

Austin Reaves talks about the best part of playing for Team USA

Austin Reaves talks about the best part of playing for Team USA - Bolavip US

For the first time in years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have reasons to believe. Not only do they have LeBron James, but Rob Pelinka also secured contract extensions for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-reaves">Austin Reaves</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a>.



The 25-year-old has blossomed into a key contributor for the purple and gold, having a breakout season last year. AD, meanwhile, continues to be their biggest star behind The King.



After hitting the open market, Reaves agreed on a four-year, $53 million extension with the Lakers. Davis, on the other hand, agreed on a three-year max extension worth $189m. Many people questioned this decision due to AD’s injury history, but Reaves is convinced the Lakers made the right decision.



<h2>Austin Reaves defends Lakers’ decision on Anthony Davis</h2>



“Sign it! You got to, he’s Anthony Davis,” Reaves said, via HoopsHype. “People out there doubt him sometimes, but he’s arguably one of the most skilled players in the league. He’s got incredible IQ to the game. He’s a joy to play with and a joy to be around, so as long as I can be around him for my career, the better I’ll be for it.”



After reaching the Conference Finals a few months ago, the Lakers are heading into the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations. Reaves believes the team is in a good place ahead of the upcoming campaign.



“I feel really, really good about what we did,” he said. “You bring back the core that went to the Western Conference Finals and those pieces fit really well with what we kinda need because we lacked that last year.”


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The Lakers have made plenty of moves in free agency, landing Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes. In addition, they also brought back D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura.

Austin Reaves reacts to Anthony Davis' lucrative deal with the Lakers - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves reacts to Anthony Davis' lucrative deal with the Lakers

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> didn’t need a lottery pick in the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> Draft to find their next star. They didn’t even need to use a draft pick at all, but Austin Reaves has proven that he belongs in the league already.



Reaves got a big payday in the offseason. It was well-deserved after all the great work he put in throughout the course of the campaign, and it seems like he’s just getting started.



His great play granted him a spot in Team USA’s roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. Moreover, he recently drew the ultimate compliment from <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> coach Steve Kerr, who praised his versatility.



<h2>Steve Kerr Raves About Austin Reaves’ Versatility</h2>



“He fits in wherever we put him; that’s the beauty of Austin,” Kerr said. “He’s a connector. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s physical, shoots and passes it. Just so poised out there all the time. He’s a guy who enhances any lineup that he plays with.”



“ Just feel, vision, awareness, and understanding of the game,” Kerr added. “The ball just goes to the right spot, the right cut is made. Austin made a play yesterday where he made a drive and kick; he was kind of behind the defense, and he worked completely behind the defense, flashed kind of in the middle of the paint, caught it and swung it through. He had feel; you have to have awareness to make a play like that. So connectors are guys who make those types of plays, and the game just makes sense, and you end up getting open shots.”


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Reaves is a rising star, and his work ethic and basketball IQ will help him get better as the years go by. The Lakers struck gold, and his contract could be one of the best bargains in the league in no time.

Steve Kerr reveals what makes Austin Reaves so special - Bolavip US

Steve Kerr reveals what makes Austin Reaves so special

LeBron James&nbsp;shocked the entire&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> when he hinted retirement. That happened after the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>&nbsp;were eliminated by the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a>&nbsp;in the Western Conference finals.



“We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know.&nbsp;I have a lot to think about to be honest.&nbsp;Just for me personally going forward in the game of basketball. I have a lot to think about.”


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However, the Lakers didn’t give up in&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-news-lakers-make-big-moves-in-free-agency-to-retain-lebron-james-20230701-BUS-21298.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free agency</a>&nbsp;to bring back the King. Undoubtedly, one the biggest names to convince&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>&nbsp;was Austin Reaves and here’s another great example of that.



<h2>LeBron James’ epic reaction with Austin Reaves before the 2023 FIBA World Cup</h2>



Austin Reaves is part of the United States’ team which will try to win the FIBA World Cup. After a big failure in the 2019 edition at China, they are in Group C alongside Jordan, Greece and New Zealand.







Steve Kerr is the head coach of that squad and the Lakers’ young star was superb during an exhibition game against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas. LeBron James took notice of that and sent him a very special message on social media. 


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“A-R you so COLD man!!!” That message for Austin Reaves was posted by LeBron James on Twitter and then he included it in one of his Instagram stories. The King is absoultely hyped with his teammate prior to the World Cup.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="634" height="1024" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20230809_BUS_43402_lebronaustinreaves-634x1024.webp&amp;width=634&amp;height=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-43476" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/lebronaustinreaves-634x1024.jpg 634w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/lebronaustinreaves-186x300.jpg 186w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/lebronaustinreaves.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px"></figure></div><figcaption>Instagram/@kingjames</figcaption></figure>

NBA News: Lakers sign key piece for LeBron James

LeBron James confirms on Instagram the next team he\&#039;ll play for in the 2023 season

LeBron James sends a special message to Austin Reaves - Bolavip US

LeBron James sends a special message to Austin Reaves

After years of struggling, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have finally looked like a competitive team last season. Rob Pelinka made the right moves just in time, and the team ended up having a deep playoff run, in which they beat Steve Kerr’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a>.



LeBron James and company took down the Dubs in the Western Conference semifinals, setting up a meeting with the Denver Nuggets to have a shot at the championship. However, they couldn’t stop Nikola Jokic’s side.



Even so, that campaign left many positives for the Lakers. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/austin-reaves">Austin Reaves</a>’ evolution, for instance, has given a lot to talk about around the league as the guard made many admirers, including Kerr.



<h2>Steve Kerr heaps massive praise on Austin Reaves</h2>



“He fits in wherever we put him; that’s the beauty of Austin,” Kerr said. “He’s a connector. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s physical, shoots and passes it. Just so poised out there all the time. He’s a guy who enhances any lineup that he plays with. Mainly, it’s just better to have him on your team than to have him on the other team. That’s what I would say about Austin.



“One of the fun things with this endeavor is that you really get to know guys who you’ve competed against and admired, but then you really get to know their games. Just feel, vision, awareness, and understanding of the game. The ball just goes to the right spot, the right cut is made.”


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Reaves is now working under Kerr’s tutelage ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Team USA, who hopes to win its first championship since 2014. The tournament will take place between August 25 and September 10, with the USA sharing Group C alongside Jordan, Greece, and New Zealand.

NBA News: Warriors coach Steve Kerr is impressed by a Lakers player - Bolavip US

NBA News: Warriors coach Steve Kerr is impressed by a Lakers player

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/russell-westbrook" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Russell Westbrook</a>&nbsp;has been widely mistreated over the&nbsp;past couple of years of his&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NBA</a>&nbsp;career. It all started as soon as he was traded to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Los Angeles Lakers</a>,&nbsp;constantly being scapegoated and harassed by the fans.



For whatever reason, most media members have tried to put Westbrook as a selfish guy and toxic teammate. One even went as far as to&nbsp;call him a vampire in the locker room.



Notably, that’s far from what&nbsp;young Los Angeles Lakers star&nbsp;<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Austin-Reaves-profile-Age-height-college-parents-girlfriend-and-nationality-20230416-0039.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Austin Reaves</a>&nbsp;said about him, praising him as one of the best teammates and people he’s ever been around.



<h2>Austin Reaves Praises Russell Westbrook</h2>



“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. As a person, you can’t get much better,”&nbsp;Reaves said in All The Smoke.&nbsp;“I got COVID in December of my rookie year in Minnesota. He reached out 3 or 4 times, asked if I need anything, and offered to send me stuff, whatever I needed.”



“As a person, couldn’t get better. Same as a teammate,”&nbsp;Reaves continued.&nbsp;“He was always empowering everybody to be better and do better and want more.&nbsp;As you said, he gets a bad rap. I don’t really understand why.”


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Westbrook doesn’t get the credit and respect he deserves from the media and some fans. But&nbsp;every single one of his former teammates will always tell you the same thing about him.

Austin Reaves shares strong words about Russell Westbrook - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves shares strong words about Russell Westbrook

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> finally seem to be in a position to challenge for an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> won’t stay forever, so the purple and gold know they cannot waste any more second.



Rob Pelinka continued with the great job done in February by making more moves this offseason, aiming to build a team that can help The King win his second ring in LA.



It took some time, since the front office made many mistakes in the roster building before it could set up a team that can aspire to succeed. But it was also lucky it didn’t lose an important player in the open market.



<h2>Austin Reaves revealed he came close to two other teams before the Lakers</h2>



In an appearance on on ‘ALL THE SMOKE’ with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Austin Reaves revealed the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs came close to signing him as a free agent, but that his desire has always been to stay in Los Angeles:



“I really wanted to be in LA the whole time. There were a couple situations that were close, but like I said I really wanted to be in LA. LA feels like home to me so that’s really where I wanted to be.”



<h2>Austin Reaves says he turned down Pistons in 2021 to join the Lakers</h2>



“It feels great. Like I said everything comes full circle and all I needed was an opportunity and I knew that. I knew what I was capable of doing. You know the skillset, the IQ, stuff like that. So it was really just about my agency putting me in a good position to have all of that. We could’ve got drafted 42nd to Detroit but kind of declined that to kind of put me in LA for a better spot,” Reaves said about going undrafted in 2021, via Lakers Nation.



“So basically, we tiered teams, best fit for me. And L.A. was I think two on the list at the time, Milwaukee might have been one, but they were Tier 1… It was, like I said, really trying to put me in a position to be able to get a roster spot. We knew that there was a high interest for a two-way so we didn’t really have to press. That’s what everything in the draft would’ve been from 42 and on would’ve been basically a two-way agreement. So we didn’t have to press and I didn’t really have to hear my name called either. Obviously I wanted to, but it was all about playing the long game.”


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Reaves had a breakout season in 2022-23, earning a four-year, $53 million contract extension with the purple and gold. Now, the team hopes he can help LeBron challenge for another championship.

NBA Rumors: Two teams almost stole a key player from LeBron James' Lakers - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Two teams almost stole a key player from LeBron James' Lakers

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> are and will forever be <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/stephen-curry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Curry’s</a> team. He changed the way the game is played, and became the most influential <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> player of his generation.



Steph is an unstoppable and unique offensive force. Many players have tried to stop him, but one can only hope to contain him and expect he misses the shots he usually makes.



Notably,<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers </a>youngster Austin Reaves learned that the tough way in the playoffs. Recently, he opened up on guarding Curry, and had no choice but to give him his flowers.



<h2>Guarding Stephen Curry Is Hell, Says Austin Reaves</h2>



“It’s honestly hell,” Reaves said on All The Smoke. “Just the way he moves without the ball. It’s honestly their system, too. It fits him to perfection. You literally can’t ever relax.“



“I remember Game 1 and 2, chasing him and Klay around, and I couldn’t make a shot. Everybody’s looking at me like, ‘Why can’t you make a shot?’ I’m like ‘I ain’t got no legs,&apos;” he added.



“His approach to the game too is special,” Reaves continued. “Just the way that he sees the game and the way he goes about the game. It was a lot of fun to play them. Obviously, happy we won. But nah, it was hell to guard him.”


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Even so, props to Reaves for not complaining about his task and stepping up to embrace the challenge to guard Curry. He may not succeed, but some don’t even try at this point.

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Austin Reaves makes strong revelation about Stephen Curry - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves makes strong revelation about Stephen Curry

Getting Austin Reaves locked up for the future was one of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>‘ main priorities as they entered the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> offseason. While not the biggest name in free agency, he was a great contributor to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James’</a> team.



It didn’t take long before Reaves reached an agreement on a new deal, as no other team even bothered making him an offer, knowing the Lakers would match any sheet he got.



Reaves’ ascent has been so notorious and rapid that even <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> coach Steve Kerr recently revealed he had no choice but to pick him to join Team USA in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.



<h2>Steve Kerr Explains Why He Picked Austin Reaves For Team USA</h2>



“For me, after watching him kick our butt for six straight games in the Western Conference Semis, it was a pretty easy choice,” Kerr said. “I think Austin is one of the rising young players in this league.



“What you look for in FIBA is versatility,” the coach continued. “You want size defensively, the ability to switch and guard multiple positions, and then you want playmaking. You want guys who can make shots but also put the ball on the floor and are good passers. Austin is just, to me, he’s a basketball player. He’s a guy who impacts winning at a really high level.”



“His story is pretty amazing given that he was undrafted two years ago,” Kerr continued. “And now, here he is, playing for Team USA and being one of the Lakers’ top-three players, but it’s not an accident. This guy can play, and we have no doubt that he’s going to make a big impact for our team in the Philippines.”


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That experience could significantly boost Reaves’ development, both as a player and a leader. Then, his contract could be one of the biggest bargains in recent NBA history.

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Steve Kerr makes strong admission about Austin Reaves - Bolavip US

Steve Kerr makes strong admission about Austin Reaves

Latest news from Austin Reaves. Find out about all the news related to Austin Reaves on bolavip.com/en

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