Oklahoma basketball: Austin Reaves heading to LA as undrafted FA
By Chip Rouse
Former Oklahoma basketball star Austin Reaves has signed on with the NBA Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent.
The Sooners leading scorer last season was hoping to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft on Thursday, but when his name went uncalled, he waisted little time in agreeing to a two-way deal with the Lakers.
Reaves led Oklahoma in the 2020-21 season, averaging a career-high 18.3 points a game and draining 30.5 percent of his three-point shots. He was second in the Big 12 in scoring to No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State, who was selected by the Detroit Pistons.
The Sooner shooting guard was also No. 2 in the conference in free-throw shooting, averaging 86 percent from the charity stripe. In addition, he pulled down 5.5 rebounds and dished out 4.6 assists in his final season in an OU uniform.
The Lakers have agreed to sign shooting guard Austin Reeves to a two-way contract, according to league sources. He split his college career at Wichita State and Oklahoma.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 30, 2021
Reaves started out his collegiate career at Wichita State, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Oklahoma. He played his junior and senior seasons for the Sooners.
In his final collegiate game, an 87-71 loss ito No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Reaves made 11 of 17 shots and kept the Sooners in the game for a long time, scoring 27 points.
The Oklahoma star earned an All-Big 12 First-Team selection for the 2020-21 season.
He is a strong competitor and plays both ends of the floor. He will have the opportunity to play for the Lakers’ affiliate in the NBA G League. If he does well there, he will have a good chance to make the parent team’s roster.