Austin Reaves
A basketball player whose underdog journey from undrafted prospect to clutch Lakers starter is a story of relentless self-belief and crafty skill.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 29·Generation Z
Biography
Austin Reaves’s path to the NBA spotlight was anything but guaranteed. Overlooked by major college programs, he honed his game at Wichita State before a standout final season at Oklahoma. Even then, he went undrafted in 2021, a setback that only fueled his determination. The Los Angeles Lakers took a chance, and Reaves seized it with a combination of high basketball IQ, deceptive playmaking, and a fearlessness in big moments that belied his rookie status. He quickly became a fan favorite at Crypto.com Arena, earning the nickname 'Hillbilly Kobe' for his rural Arkansas roots and penchant for clutch shots. His game is defined by savvy off-ball movement, clever drawing of fouls, and a passing vision that makes him more than just a shooter. Reaves’s ascent from a two-way contract to a key starter on a historic franchise is a testament to the power of skill development and mental toughness in the modern NBA.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Austin was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Austin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Austin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and became a full-time starter by his second season.
- Played a pivotal role in the Lakers' run to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, averaging 16.9 points per game in the playoffs.
- Scored a career-high 35 points against the Orlando Magic in March 2023, including a game-winning three-pointer.
- Represented the United States, winning a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup as a member of the national team.
Did You Know?
He grew up in Newark, Arkansas, a rural town with a population of around 1,200 people.
His older brother, Spencer, also played college basketball and professionally overseas.
He wore jersey number 15 in honor of his grandfather, who passed away at age 15.
He is known for his distinctive pre-game shooting routine, which involves a series of dribbles and a behind-the-back move.
“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder. That’s just how I’m wired.”
