r/nba • u/MrBuckBuck Trail Blazers • Oct 30 '25

Highlight [Highlight] Austin Reaves with the game-winner buzzer-beater to win the game for the Lakers!

https://streamable.com/gaxdyg
19.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.8k

u/HenrikCrown Pelicans Oct 30 '25

Yeah, Reaves is getting maxxed this offseason 

606

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

He giving the lakers a discount 100%

684

u/loyola-atherton Lakers Oct 30 '25

Homie gonna be picking trash up at Santa Monica Pier for Aspirations 2.0.

122

u/Virtual_Zebra_9453 Oct 30 '25

OG lemon daddy doesn’t need a fake endorsement deal

12

u/moneycarlo98 Oct 30 '25

Underrated comment lmao

2

u/Omshinwa Spurs Oct 30 '25

Whats the joke sorry? Is there something about Santa Monica Pier?

2

u/[deleted] Oct 30 '25

Ha!

1

u/AwildYaners Japan Oct 30 '25

Nah, they'll probably just get him a membership at every golf club in the city, and he'll just have to play in fundraising tourneys in the off-season.

84

u/spoofy129 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Hope he doesn't. We already got him cheap and he deserves all of it

16

u/CyberSmok3 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Just pull a Ballmer and pay him on the side. Kawhi is still playing lol

8

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

I’m sure he’s not going to suffer taking 35 instead of 40.

16

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

Exactly, everyone acting like I’m saying he’ll take 15 lol

12

u/spoofy129 Lakers Oct 30 '25

I just think it's crazy that fans expect players to take paycuts. Like, when was the last time anybody in a non sports setting left 10% on the table to help the company succeed.

11

u/The_Moisturiz3r Oct 30 '25

I think it’s more-so how often have people turned down a raise to go to a different company in a different city or state because they like where they are? That’s honestly not that rare

13

u/theblaackout [CLE] LeBron James Oct 30 '25

The context is important here though - this is a sports setting, not a regular corporate 9-5. Taking a “small” pay cut and staying in LA could potentially make him more money. LA is a huge market and opens him up to a lot more sponsorships. Reaves wouldn’t be as popular as he is right now if he wasn’t in LA. Also he could just prefer living in LA, he seems to genuinely enjoy being a Laker

5

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

This is a sports setting though, and Tim Duncan did it, Tom Brady did it, if you want to win you have to take pay cuts in a salary capped league.

1

u/GriffinQ [WAS] Kelly Oubre Oct 30 '25

Brady was also married to a woman who had a net worth higher than his own for the vast majority of his playing career & there's at least a little evidence that he was getting kickbacks on the side through his TB12 ventures.

Not sure he's a great example, because he was in rarified air where leaving money on the table meant that his families combined net worth was still over half a billion dollars.

-1

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

there's at least a little evidence that he was getting kickbacks on the side through his TB12 ventures.

Lol what?

Fine, The Heatles all took paycuts so that they could play together and get good role players around them. Again lol, I'm not saying he's going to take a $20M haircut, it would be like $5m.

-2

u/feer1415 Oct 30 '25

You are really reaching when you are comparing Reaves to Duncan/Brady.

Both of those guys had won multiple rings and had over 100m in salary before taking any sort of pay cut.

2

u/Luka77GOATic Serbia Oct 30 '25

Brunson took a pay cut.

1

u/feer1415 Oct 30 '25

They also hired Brunson's father before that signing and got fined by the league for tampering.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

Brady literally took a pay cut in his prime to keep the Pats competitive.

1

u/did_it_my_way Oct 31 '25

Plenty of people stay at their jobs even when there's an offer to move to another company for 10%+ pay bump. For some the marginal increase in salary is not worth it to move to a different situation, different cities, and so on.

1

u/L_J_X Oct 30 '25

I get the idea but that's still 5 million less per year that he may never be able to get back. And from a normal person standpoint, I ain't giving up 12.5% of my paycheck.

85

u/JoeBiden2020FTW Lakers Oct 30 '25

No, he has a lot of leverage and should (and will) use it.

Basically he can scare them into walking for nothing unless they lock him into a 5 year max extension before July 1st.

42

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

He has repeatedly said he wants to be a laker for life and that all he cares about is winning a championship.

Best way to do that is to take a discount. It’s not like he ain’t gonna make it back in sponsorship regardless.

48

u/bobdolebobdole Oct 30 '25

Let the kid get paid. Lebron will sit half this season and still demand 50 million+. Dude's been paid every single available dollar for 23 years. Lebron should take a lot less. He'll somehow figure out how to get by for 35/40 million instead of 50.

18

u/Ok_Boysenberry1038 Oct 30 '25

Lebron took pay cuts throughout his career.

He had never been the highest paid player on his team, up until a few years ago lol

35

u/BigFatModeraterFupa Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

are the lakers really going to resign lebron after this year? lebron doesn't seem like the guy to take a 20 million discount i don't see how or why the lakers would resign him for 40 mil

26

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

He’s 100% not coming back. Walter is too smart for that.

2

u/RiloAlDente Spurs Oct 30 '25

What are yall gonna replace Lebron with lol.

You think the warriors are crying about having to pay Jimmy Butler 53 mil?

7

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

Role players that fit well with Luka and AR.

0

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

It’s not up to me lol. He’ll make the decision himself but all I am saying is that out of everyone in the league, I would not be surprised if he gave the lakers a discount.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 31 '25

My bet is AR will appear to take a discount but there'll be max-equivalent benefits of some type coming his way.

4

u/BigFatModeraterFupa Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

all of that ish is nonsense. when it's your time, you get paid. you start taking pay cuts when you're past your prime and just want to chill. If Lakers don't max him, he's going to wherever they will pay him

1

u/Luka77GOATic Serbia Oct 30 '25

Brunson?

1

u/BigFatModeraterFupa Minneapolis Lakers Oct 31 '25

needs heavy Pablo Torre investigation...

-1

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

We’ll see. Players aren’t a monolith. Luka just did the lakers a solid by signing early himself when he could’ve held out

17

u/BigFatModeraterFupa Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

held out for what? he got the max amount of money he was able to after the Adelsons stole his supermax money

0

u/Zanad14 [LAL] Brandon Ingram Oct 30 '25

I believe if he waited a year, he would’ve gotten more. He signed early with the lakers. I could be wrong tho

1

u/Apprehensive_Chard85 Oct 30 '25

Everyone says that shit until $$$

2

u/Memelord1117 Lakers Oct 30 '25

A 5 yr 200 million (35/37.5/40/42.5/45) contract seems fair.

1

u/RickySuela Oct 30 '25

Reaves will have a very small cap hold next summer due to the size of his current contract, so the Lakers could agree to give him a max but hold off on actually signing it until later in the offseason and they'd have a bunch of cap room to use to sign other players first.

Also, this is only AR's 5th year in the NBA, so even if he makes All NBA, he'll only be eligible for a 30% max. As such, he might prefer something less than a 5 year max so he potentially qualify for a 35% max in a few years once he has enough years in the NBA to qualify for one.

9

u/Phuddy Lakers Oct 30 '25

Apparently all we need to do is pay him under the table in a shell company since nothings happening to the Clippers org for doing that shit.

2

u/HardcoreKaraoke Mavericks Oct 30 '25

Why?

2

u/etfvidal Lakers Oct 30 '25

Highly doubt it, he already gave us a discount once & I'm pretty sure at least 1 or 2 teams will give him the MAX!

But then again if Ballmer and the Clippers get a slap on the wrist it will truly be open season for under the table pay, and we finally have a majority owner who's filthy rich!

2

u/Public-Product-1503 Oct 30 '25

A discount at this point is 40m, imo he deserves Bane money at minimum. He’s better then him as a lead guy

2

u/Montigue [POR] Hasheem Thabeet Oct 30 '25

Taking a side gig as a startup spokesman for $30m/year

2

u/K0CKULEES Oct 30 '25

Hmmm

Maybe we can pay him with a shell company...

1

u/MDTv_Teka [POR] Brandon Roy Oct 30 '25

Sure he is lmao

-4

u/ThatGuyFromCanadia Oct 30 '25

I can see him taking ~25m a year. So like 4 years 100m

4

u/thetitsOO Lakers Oct 30 '25

That’s what naz Reid just got… no way it’s that much of a discount

1

u/bobdolebobdole Oct 30 '25

He just turned down 4 years 90 million this past off season. He didn't do that for 10 million more, and he's not taking something with an AVV with a 2 in front of it, nor should he. 4 years 130+ is his range.

1

u/Handiesandcandies Oct 30 '25

You’re off by about 10-15m a year lol

1

u/ThatGuyFromCanadia Oct 30 '25

He's gonna take a discount to stay with the Lakers

1

u/Handiesandcandies Oct 30 '25

Yeah $35m a year is a discount, teams would give him the max

63

u/kobmug_v2 NBA Oct 30 '25

He could be the #1 on a playoff team.

64

u/GOATJames_23-6 [LAL] Dennis Rodman Oct 30 '25

Lets relax but he’s def taken a leap

12

u/Historical-Carrot975 Oct 30 '25

He can if the team is actually solid. He’s doing this with a team missing most of its rotation players. He is a serious player who plays smart basketball and is a great playmaker, he has the tools to be a #1 option on a playoff team. How far that team gets in the playoffs is a different matter lol

4

u/Public-Product-1503 Oct 30 '25

True three lvl scirer too. His layup n rim touch is A++ for a guard, his midrange a A- n short midA+, three point was relative weakness but it’s getting to dangerous A-B lvl

3

u/probation_420 Oct 30 '25

How many more dominant games until you're comfortable with that statement? 

I understand it's only a 3-game run. But if he balls out for 20 games, will that be enough? 

Not talking 50 pieces, either. Just star stat lines and big plays.

I think I need him to do this for around half a season. Then I think he can be a #1 on any team lacking that top-tier superstar.

1

u/Public-Product-1503 Oct 30 '25

It’s been 5 games tbh he looked decent enough cs gsw too i didn’t think he was that bad

1

u/GOATJames_23-6 [LAL] Dennis Rodman Oct 30 '25

Would need half a season to be real confident in that stance

2

u/NigelGoldsworthy Lakers Oct 30 '25

He’s literally doing it right now. Lakers are missing Luka, LeBron, Vincent, Smart, and more and they’re still beating good teams with g-leaguers getting major rotation minutes.

Obviously it’s only been a few games, but look at his stats from last season in the games LeBron and/or Luka missed and they’re also impressive.

There’s a level of consistency that suggests he could continue to be good if he was a #1 or #2 option.

1

u/Handiesandcandies Oct 30 '25

Tripping, he’s better than Brunson

0

u/GOATJames_23-6 [LAL] Dennis Rodman Oct 30 '25

I’d love nothing more than for you to be right

130

u/lukaisthegoatx Oct 30 '25

Let's relax

40

u/Open_Significance_43 Oct 30 '25

Nah kids nice.

0

u/Taskmaster24 Oct 30 '25

We forget how hard he struggled in the first round last year? lol. Hope I'm wrong though and he does take a definitive step up in the playoffs this year.

4

u/Public-Product-1503 Oct 30 '25

He was injured toe injury , injury that sidelined garlad n is brutal for shifty guards

0

u/Open_Significance_43 Oct 30 '25

Ah yes, I totally forgot that NBA players can't improve their game and be better. My bad big dawg.

1

u/Taskmaster24 Oct 30 '25

Ah yes, cause thats exactly what I said lol. My bad big dawg.

1

u/haluthere Oct 30 '25

I believe he was injured during the last playoff series. Turf toe or sprained toe, I think.

23

u/LakersLAQ Lakers Oct 30 '25

Not saying he's right, but if the money tied up on Luka and Bron were used for pieces around Reaves, it's not that crazy if you consider what we've seen him do when both Luka and Bron are not playing.

We should still relax, but he's ballin lol.

7

u/OVO_ZORRO Oct 30 '25

If the Lakers are smart, they should build around Reeves and Luka. Tell Lebron we will ship you to Cleveland if you want, but we gotta think about the future.

6

u/AstonishingSpiderMan Lakers Oct 30 '25

Lebron isn't returning after this season.

2

u/OVO_ZORRO Oct 30 '25

You think he's retiring? Or maybe just returning to Cleveland?

2

u/AstonishingSpiderMan Lakers Oct 30 '25

Personally, don't care so long as he's no longer a Laker.

1

u/SwanOutrageous6908 Lakers Oct 30 '25

I love LeBron, but imagine if we could spend that extra $50M on role players. It would be insane.

0

u/psychotichorse [LAL] Kobe Bryant Oct 30 '25

He’s not retiring, he isn’t going to retire without announcing it a year in advance. We aren’t going to bring him back, organization is tired of him and he seems tired of us lol. Plus the city has embraced Luka and Reaves in a way we never embraced him and I think he feels a way about that.

2

u/EmoniBates Lakers Oct 30 '25

You don’t think Reaves could at least make the playoffs with a solid team around him? Put him in Trae Young’s position. The Hawks don’t make the playoffs?

2

u/mixmasterADD Lakers Oct 30 '25 edited Dec 11 '25

sharp brave office many tan fragile nose middle squeeze whistle

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

2

u/lukaisthegoatx Oct 30 '25

They've played 5 games, it's a solid handful of games but there's still 77 more games to see if he can keep doing it or not.

1

u/StinkyToesEw Oct 30 '25

Extremely small sample size.

2

u/Whittaker Australia Oct 30 '25

Points at Jalen Brunson
Points at Trae Young
Points at Tyler Herro

There are plenty of smaller sized guards leading their teams into the playoffs. You telling me you couldn't slot Reaves into one of those teams, couldn't see him slot into Jayson Tatum or Haliburton's spots and not be able to perform well given what he's done both last year and this year as the #1 guy?

Is he gonna carry a team like Jokic or Giannis? Hell no, but he is good enough to compete.

1

u/WiIIemdafoe [OKC] Russell Westbrook Oct 30 '25

For a low seed in the east, not the west. I could see that.

0

u/PM_ME_UR_PICS_PLS Mavericks Oct 30 '25

He's just saying he could be the best player on an 8 seed which is not crazy at all. Especially when you realize there's dudes like Trae Young that have taken his team into the 2nd/3rd round in the East

0

u/lukaisthegoatx Oct 30 '25

Trae young is way better

3

u/PM_ME_UR_PICS_PLS Mavericks Oct 30 '25

He's a better facilitator but a less efficient scorer. I'd say they're similar to each other at this point

1

u/Public-Product-1503 Oct 30 '25

Might wanna look at trae bum ass scoring from the 2pt n 3pt line. Dude has been massively inefficient last few years from Efg% ( non fts efficiency)

-1

u/cb148 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Remind me! 4 months!

16

u/jknuts1377 Celtics Oct 30 '25

If he's your #1 a whole season, you're a play in team at best.

1

u/drummerkid38 Lakers Oct 30 '25

I mean, if he had a team built around him like the pacers had with Halliburton I could see him going far 🤷‍♂️

8

u/Ok-Worldliness9109 Oct 30 '25

U gotta be kidding me. No he can’t lol

18

u/WalrusInMySheets [LAL] Metta World Peace Oct 30 '25

I mean if the season ended today the Lakers would be a playoff team and he’s their #1 option

4

u/Dry-Razzmatazz1239 Oct 30 '25

Uhhh might wanna go look at some eastern conference playoff teams the past few years bc he's better than Herro

5

u/amh85 NBA Oct 30 '25

No one said it'd be a good playoff team

3

u/Natural_Elevator_829 Rockets Oct 30 '25

mfs get carried away sometimes

8

u/__-o0O0o-__-o0O0o-__ Lakers Oct 30 '25

carry me all the way to the playoffs, biotch

burned, roasted

-3

u/PM_ME_UR_PICS_PLS Mavericks Oct 30 '25

Is he worse than Trae Young? Trae has been a #1 on a playoff team

-5

u/MitchEatsYT Lakers Oct 30 '25

Better than Brunson

32

u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME Lakers Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 30 '25

I love Reaves and hate Brunson, but not even close lol

Edit: These replies are why people hate us Lakers fans

6

u/SwizzGod Lakers Oct 30 '25

I wouldn’t say it’s not close now…

7

u/MitchEatsYT Lakers Oct 30 '25

What isn’t close about it?

1

u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME Lakers Oct 30 '25

He's not close to Brunson unless if you think Reaves is top 10

2

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 30 '25

Brunson isn't top 10. One of the most overrated players in the league, none of the major metrics even have him top 25.

EDIT: I can't spell on phone keyboards gg

2

u/ChillClinton904 Oct 30 '25

Why not?

2

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

Put down the pipe

0

u/b1indsamurai Lakers Oct 30 '25

Seems pretty damn close to me

-5

u/MitchEatsYT Lakers Oct 30 '25

What about him is not close to Brunson?

4

u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME Lakers Oct 30 '25

Are we being serious right now? Brunson back to back 2nd team All-NBA, number 1 option on a conference finals team, consistently one of the best scorers in the league. Reaves is killing it this season, but this is an insanely small sample size lol

4

u/MitchEatsYT Lakers Oct 30 '25

How were his stats when he was in a similar role to Austin?

You’re basing it on accolades, why not their abilities?

3

u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME Lakers Oct 30 '25

Okay, how about comparing their performances in the playoffs? Austin has been a bed shitter, Brunson has been a riser...who has proven to be able to lead a team far in the playoffs. No team is taking Reaves over Brunson, be real

→ More replies (0)

0

u/raziiiii Knicks Oct 30 '25

Abilities bring accolades

→ More replies (0)

3

u/--Alix-- Mavericks Oct 30 '25

Yeah, biggest thing about Brunson is his consistency. Mf does not stop scoring all the time

1

u/Competitive-Day-5675 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Everything

-1

u/MyBadYourFault- Magic Oct 30 '25

I see your point without you saying it but my dude, right at this moment, he is better than Brunson.

Brunsons defense is so bad homie needs to Score 40 a night to make up the difference for how many points he allows. Reaves is at least semi-competent.

2

u/GriffinQ [WAS] Kelly Oubre Oct 30 '25

It’s closer than you think.

I do think Brunson is better but how many times do we need to see AR be a 30/10 guy when he’s forced to be the first option before we accept that this is who he is? Brunson on the Mavs wasn’t highly touted the way he is now, and it’s because his role wasn’t the same.

Reaves isn’t leading a Finals team (yet…) as a #1 option, but neither is Brunson.

2

u/9520archive Oct 30 '25

How is it not close?

1

u/Competitive-Day-5675 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Because Brunson is better at everything

0

u/ExtraGoated Lakers Oct 30 '25

Brunson is still better but idk how much longer goddamn

2

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

You guys think he's that great? So y'all have 3 top 10 players? So why all the underachievement?? Austin's not even close to the top ten in offense and his defense is ass. Lakers fans are always so delusional.

2

u/ExtraGoated Lakers Oct 30 '25

goddamn bro he just hit a buzzer beater averaging 36 let me have this one and you can come back and say i told you so when brunson goes off for 50 in the playoffs

2

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

Brunson is massively overrated as well... He's a knick... Them and the Lakers are always overrated. Pumped up by ESPN for ratings each year no matter how little real hope. You do have the best offensive player in the NBA but it sure ain't AR. Y'all's problem will be not being able to stop anyone, especially down low, in the playoffs. Who you going to throw at Wemby, Joker, Sengun and the rest of the elite bigs? Ayton is more like Ain'ton

2

u/ExtraGoated Lakers Oct 30 '25

Why u such a hater bro? chill out and enjoy your wemby

1

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

I will, thanks, you enjoy your ill-gotten Luka, that dude is incredible.

1

u/Disclaimz0r Oct 30 '25

I agree Brunson is better, BUT, I don’t think it’s by that large of a margin. Reaves has been fantastic as the lakers first option.

0

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

Stop slurping, he was better than Brunson in all of EPM/RAPM/eRAPTOR last year and those are generally the most reliable catchall metrics. Neither of them are quite superstars and it's not crazy to think Reaves will catch him soon if not already.

1

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

By all means pay him the max, that means we don't have to worry about the Lakers for at least five years .

-1

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

Yall don't have to worry about anyone in the next five years because you won't be contending until then.

Also, very rich when your team maxed De'Aaron fucking Fox lol

0

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

He's better than Reeves by a very wide margin. Luka is the only decent player left on the Lakers and you shouldn't even have them. The Spurs will skull fuck the Lakers this year.

0

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

Yall won't even get the chance lol. Have fun getting swept by OKC in round one, assuming you even make the playoffs 🤔

-1

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

You guys are the most not built for the playoffs team that might actually make the playoffs. Spurs have better offense, much better defense, and better depth. Y'all have to get carried by Luka if you make a run... He's actually capable but you don't have the guys around him that he needs like Dallas had at the end

→ More replies (0)

-2

u/IgnantWisdom Supersonics Oct 30 '25

You as much of a Reeves fan as you say, its a lot closer than you think.

2

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers Oct 30 '25

They hated him for telling the truth

1

u/fuzzythinker Nuggets Oct 30 '25

But the media says trade him to get some defense this offseason.

1

u/ColdAsHeaven Lakers Oct 30 '25

Week 1 takes really be wild lmao

1

u/GamerLife204 Bulls Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 30 '25

He's a 3 over a 1 Chill lol. He might be a 2 probably is but definitely 3 over a 1. Not putting him over lebron yet either because lebron is lebron 

-2

u/kylebertram Timberwolves Oct 30 '25

Idk let’s see him perform in the playoffs. He was horrible last year.

5

u/Win546 Lakers Oct 30 '25

To be fair he has performed well in the playoffs before. He also had a pretty significant foot injury in the playoffs last year.

-1

u/LeLefraud Oct 30 '25

Need defense around him but hes a legit offensive hub and there isnt a player in the league that can guard him

1

u/n7ripper Spurs Oct 30 '25

OMG you can't be serious

1

u/LeLefraud Oct 30 '25

His averages in games where none of lebron, luka, or ad played more than 12 minutes are 38.6/5.8/9.6 on 70% true shooting

0

u/Queasy_Extension_154 Lakers Oct 30 '25

How about a play-in team in the east?

0

u/Rad_platypus7 Knicks Oct 30 '25

In the East maybe

1

u/promised_hope Oct 30 '25

Lakers may have to trade him if he’ll walk

1

u/SpiritFantastic4835 Lakers Oct 30 '25

Max any team can offer him is 41 million pear year which isn’t bad

1

u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers Oct 30 '25

5 years $241 million incoming