Luka Doncic Stunned by ‘Undrafted’ Austin Reaves.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back on a winning streak, following their 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena last Sunday with a 125-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs at home on Monday.
Even without LeBron James for the fifth consecutive game and playing the second part of a back-to-back, the Lakers overcame the Spurs, largely thanks to another outstanding performance by shooting guard Austin Reaves.
After scoring 28 points against the Suns, the former Oklahoma Sooners standout poured in 30 points on 12-for-21 shooting, along with seven rebounds and six assists against the Spurs. Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ superstar guard, had high praise for Reaves after the game.
“This guy just scored 30 in his fourth game in five days,” Doncic remarked about Reaves during the postgame press conference following the win over the Spurs (h/t LoJo Media). “He’s an incredible player. For him to go undrafted is unbelievable.”
Doncic, who had 21 points and 14 assists in the game against the Spurs, was slightly mistaken in recalling Reaves’ recent scoring feats.
Monday’s performance marked the second time in five days that Reaves scored 30 or more points. He had 28 points in a 126-108 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last Thursday, followed by 37 points in a 131-126 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Friday. In the last four Lakers games, the 26-year-old Reaves has averaged 30.8 points, shooting 52.9 percent from the field.
But Doncic’s point remains valid.
Reaves has made significant progress since going undrafted in 2021 after his final two years at Oklahoma. His big break came when the Lakers signed him to a two-way contract and later to a two-year, $2.49 million deal. In 2023, the Newark, Arkansas native secured a four-year, $53.83 million contract with the Lakers.