Austin Reaves, an American-German basketball player, is undeniably one of the most promising young NBA talents. Thanks to his impressive skills, Reaves, despite being undrafted, became the pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021.
The Newark, Arkansas native got his athletic spirit from his parents- both played college basketball. Not to mention, his older brother also mentored him in basketball.
Austin, an alumnus of Wichita State and Oklahoma, signed a two-year contract with the Lakers on September 27, 2021. The deal commits him to LA Lakers through the 2021-22 & 2022-23 seasons.
The shooting guard started in 19 out of 61 game appearances in his rookie season.
Besides his playing career journey & prominence, the NBA player got into the media limelight with his controversies & relationship.
Want to more about Austin Reaves’ family, net worth & relationship? Here we are with all the answers to your queries, be sure to read the full article.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Austin Tyler Reaves |
| Nick Name | Hillbilly Kobe, AR-15 |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1998 |
| Age | 25 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Newark, Arkansas |
| Nationality | American-German |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Chinese zodiac | Tiger |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 93 Kg (206 lbs) |
| High School | Cedar Ridge High School |
| University | Wichita State University, Oklahoma University |
| Father’s Name | Brian Reaves |
| Mother’s Name | Nicole Wilkett |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Girlfriend | Jenna Barber |
| Children | None |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| League | NBA |
| Playing for | Los Angeles Lakers (2021- Present) |
| Jersey Number | 15 |
| Tattoos | None |
| NBA draft | Undrafted (2021) |
| Net Worth | $1 Million |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Parents Of Austin Reaves | Family Background!
Austin Tyler Reaves, born on May 29, 1998, in Newark, Arkansas, is the youngest of two sons to Nicole Wilkett and Brian Reaves.
The NBA shooting guard comes from a family of basketball players. Both of his parents played college basketball for Arkansas State.
Austin’s mother attended Sulphur Rock High School and later enrolled at Arkansas State, where she averaged 21.3 points per game and earned all-conference honors as a senior.
Reaves’ father Brian played for the Arkansas Red Wolves from 1989-90 to 1992-93.
Throughout his collegiate career, he played in 107 games, totaled 189 rebounds, 398 assists, 90 steals & averaged 4.7 points per game.
Brother Is Also A Basketball Player
Austin Reaves grew up with his elder brother Spencer Reaves, two years his senior, born on December 23, 1995.
Spencer plays basketball at the German basketball team Brose Bamberg on a deal that started in the 2022-2023 season & runs through 2025.
Formerly, he played for Spanish teams: Juaristi ISB (2018-2020) & UBU Tizona Burgos (2020-21), and Germany’s Bayer Giants Leverkusen (2021-22)
After attending Cedar Ridge High School, he went to North Greenville University & finished his first year there in 2014. As a sophomore transfer, Spencer Reaves enrolled at the University of Central Missouri in 2015.
He graduated with a major in Physical Education in 2018.
In his interview with Oklahoma in 2020, Austin said of his elder brother as his ‘best friend’ and mentor who inspired him to pursue a basketball career.
Reportedly, Spencer would drag his future NBA star younger brother to workouts & made him his practice buddy. The two competed in golf, tennis & board games along with basketball.
Austin Reaves Education & Collegiate Career
Austin, an alumnus of Cedar Ridge High School, enrolled at Wichita State University (2016-18). As a sophomore transfer to the University of Oklahoma (2019-21), he redshirted his 2018-19 season.
Throughout his college career, Reaves dislocated his right shoulder three times & had to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum.
While at Oklahoma, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and finished his senior year averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
On March 31, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft.
NBA Career & Achievements
Austin Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft and later signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shortly after, he quickly impacted the team and signed a standard NBA contract joining the rosters: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Carmelo Anthony, & others.
The player made his debut on October 22, 2021, in a 115–105 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
He scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and hit a game-winning 3-pointer in a 107-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on December 15.
Then, on April 10, 2022, Austin Reaves achieved his first triple-double in a 146-141 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets, scoring 31 points, 16 rebounds, and ten assists in 42 minutes.
Career Highlights & Awards
- 2021 First-team All-Big 12
- 2020 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
Age & Body Measurements
Born in 1998, the Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves is 25 years old. His zodiac sign is Gemini & according to the Chinese calendar, the player was born in the Tiger year.
The 1.96 m tall NBA player weighs around 206 lbs & has an athletic build, a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft.
Austin Reaves wears a shoe size of 14, the standard size for most American men. He has dark brown hair and eyes, which adds to his striking appearance.
Is Austin Reaves Dating Anyone? Any Girlfriend?
Even though the NBA player prefers to keep his dating profile under wraps, it can’t remain away from eagle-eyed fans.
Austin Reaves is in a relationship with his high school girlfriend, Jenna Barber.
She was born on December 20, 2000, and has a twin sister named Jordan Wheeler.
Austin’s social media posts are all about basketball, and, on the contrary, his girlfriend often features him on her Instagram & Facebook posts.
On October 27, 2015, Jenna posted a collage picture featuring Austin & tagged him on the occasion of their first anniversary.
So, it is evident that the couple began dating in 2014 when they were high school students.
Often Jenna makes court appearances to support her NBA boyfriend.
On January 24, 2023, she posted an Instagram carousel where she wrote a jersey number #15 that Reaves wears with the Lakers.
Did You Know? Reaves’ elder brother Spencer Reaves is married to Kaci Mack Reaves; they exchanged vows on June 29, 2022.
Austin Reaves | Controversies
Austin Reaves responded wittily to an incident during a game against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2022.
While chasing a loose ball, Reaves was accidentally pushed into the front row. This caused a spillage of beverages, and he jokingly remarked about the smell of one of the spilled drinks, “Lobos,” a tequila brand.
His comment caused a comically perplexed Anthony Davis, also an investor in the brand, to react.
Another controversial incident happened in early March 2020, when Austin used to play as a guard for the Oklahoma Sooners.
In his game-winning shot against TCU, Austin made a controversial celebration that caused a lot of stir. The player walked down the court, flexing and making a throat-slashing gesture to the crowd.
However, he quickly took to Instagram to apologize for his actions, stating that he “meant no disrespect” and that he had “got caught up in the heat of the moment.”
Reaves acknowledged taking things too far and apologized for any offense caused.
Austin Doesn’t Like His Nickname
During his rookie season, Austin Reaves was given the nicknames “AR-15” and “Hillbilly Kobe” by the Lakers fans.
However, in July 2022, the player mentioned that he wanted to distance himself from these monikers.
Why? Because the name ‘AR-15’ is the name of the weapon that is used in many mass shootings. And it was out of respect for the late Kobe Bryant that he refused to take the nickname ‘Hillbilly Kobe.’
Net Worth & Contract Of Austin Reaves
Austin Tyler Reaves has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of April 2024. The majority of his earnings came through his NBA contracts & salary.
On August 3, 2021, the NBA player signed a two-way contract with the LA Lakers after being undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Then, he signed a two-year standard NBA contract worth $2.49 million on September 27, 2021. Austin earned a salary of $925,258 in the 2021-22 season, while his payroll for the 2022-23 season records $1.56 million.
Aside from NBA earnings, Reaves makes a decent sum through endorsements too. On August 28, 2022, the Reaves signed a shoe deal with the Chinese company, Rigorer. The player is the first NBA player to join the Chinese brand.
FAQs
What is the jersey number of Austin Reaves?
The NBA shooting guard Austin wears jersey number #15 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He wore #12 for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Who is Austin Reaves dating?
Austin Reaves is currently in a relationship with his high school girlfriend Jenna Barber.
. His rookie 2-year $2.49 million deal earned him a $1.56 million salary in 2022.){kind=link}