Austin Reaves' brother drops 3-word reaction after Lakers guard opens up on "toughness" during childhood
LA Lakers guard Austin Reaves has evolved from an undrafted player to a vital contributor to the team. His older brother, Spencer Reaves, responded with a three-word reaction to a tweet by Lakers Nation's Daniel Starkland, which highlighted Austin's comments about attributing his toughness to his upbringing.
"Glad to help"
According to Starkland, Austin Reaves credited Spencer with helping him develop a tough mindset. Reaves said his brother never let him win at anything, forcing him to toughen up.
"Austin Reaves on where his toughness came from: 'My brother used to beat the sh*t out of me every day. Growing up as a little brother, you never win anything... But I wouldn't have it any other way," Starkland tweeted.
Despite a successful college career, Austin Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. He briefly considered playing overseas but instead opted to pursue opportunities in the NBA G League.
He joined the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. His strong performances, particularly on offense, led to a two-way contract with the Purple and Gold.
Furthermore, his persistence paid off as he became a key contributor off the bench for the Lakers. He earned a four-year, $54 million contract extension in November 2022. This season, Reaves has become a regular starter under coach JJ Redick.
He is averaging 16.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season. Additionally, he is shooting 43.6% from the field and 36.2% from the 3-point line.
Austin Reaves and his relationship with his brother Spencer Reaves
Austin Reaves and his brother Spencer have a close relationship. His brother made headlines when he talked about Austin's rise to fame in the NBA and even joked that he could still beat the Lakers guard in a game of 1-on-1.
"And people are like, 'Oh, when are you going to play in the NBA?' I'm like, 'I don't know if I'm built for the NBA. I'm a realist.' They'd be like, 'Are you jealous of Austin?' I'm like, 'No, I'll still whoop his a*s in a game of 1-on-1.'
"Just super proud of him. He just signed a big contract after two years because he was put in the right situation and showed people that they're wrong."
Despite their different paths in the world of pro basketball, Spencer and Austin both have a strong and supportive relationship.