​The Los Angeles Lakers have solidified one of the cornerstones of their future by officially re-signing Austin Reaves to a long-term deal, the team announced on Sunday. After opting out of his player option this summer, Reaves chose to bet on himself following a standout season, and his gamble has paid off in a historic fashion. The contract, a four-year, $185 million maximum deal first reported by ESPN, makes him the highest-paid undrafted free agent in NBA history and caps one of the league’s most remarkable success stories.
Since entering the NBA as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2021, Reaves has progressively raised his level of play with the Lakers. He transformed from averaging 7.3 points per game as a rookie to a career-best 23.3 points per game last season, marking a 16-point per game increase over five seasons. Lakers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka lauded Reaves, stating, “Austin’s relentless pursuit of improvement, fierce competitiveness and commitment to winning have made him an integral part of our organization. From the moment he joined the Lakers, Austin has embodied the work ethic and selfless approach that define our culture. We’re thrilled to continue building with him as a cornerstone of our team as we pursue our championship goals.”
Reaves concluded the season as the best scoring year of his NBA career. His scoring average stood as the highest by an undrafted player since Hall of Famer Moses Malone logged 23.8 points in the 1985-86 season. The Arkansas native also climbed the Lakers’ all-time charts, becoming only the second undrafted player in franchise history to reach 5,000 career points with the Lakers, joining the legendary George Mikan.
Throughout the year, Reaves delivered signature moments that reinforced his rising star status. He posted a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings early in the season, then, three days later, matched his career high with 16 assists and capped the stretch with a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In addition to his individual feats, Reaves formed one of the NBA’s most potent backcourts alongside Luka Dončić, with the duo averaging 56.8 points per game—the highest-scoring backcourt in the league during the 2025-26 season.
Over five NBA seasons, Reaves has appeared in 331 regular-season games, averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 48.3% from the field. He has also averaged 17.3 points across 32 career playoff appearances and started every postseason game during the Lakers’ run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals. With Reaves back in Los Angeles under a historic new contract, the Lakers have secured one of the league’s most promising guards for the foreseeable future, ready to help guide the franchise toward continued success and championship contention.