Austin Reaves is having a breakout season at the perfect time, positioning himself for a massive payday next summer. His current contract includes a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, but he stands to make a lot more money if he declines that option and enters unrestricted free agency.
While the value of his next contract is unknown, Reaves has made one thing clear, he knows exactly where he wants to spend the rest of his NBA career.
Will Austin Reaves’ Loyalty Keep Him in Los Angeles Lakers?
While Reaves could secure a massive contract next summer, he seems more focused on where he will be playing. He wants to remain in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform for his entire career, and he appears willing to sign for less than his maximum market value to make that happen.
Austin Reaves is not obsessed over earning every dollar possible on his next deal and wants to spend his entire NBA career with the Lakers, per @mcten
(https://t.co/yrmJ4JxK8t) pic.twitter.com/9yTtFfXr9N
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 11, 2025
“I’ve said it a million times. I Love L.A. I love it … I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don’t try to think about those things,” Reaves told ESPN.
Los Angeles took a chance on Reaves when he went undrafted in 2021 out of the University of Oklahoma, a fact that could influence his decision. That loyalty might lead him to accept his player option, giving the franchise more financial flexibility to build a stronger contending roster next season. However, it is hard to pass up an almost $30 million raise. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, if Reaves declines the option, the wing can sign a five-year, $241 million contract with the Lakers this summer.
Despite being plagued by injuries to start the campaign, the Lakers have held strong. Reaves stepped up to keep the team together during Luka Dončić’s week-long absence. Los Angeles currently sits fourth in the Western Conference with an 8-3 record, despite the lack of LeBron James, as well as Dončić and Reaves missing multiple contests. The 27-year-old wing is averaging 30.3 points, 9.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals for the campaign, all of which are career highs.
How Has Reaves Handled Increased Responsibility?
Reaves’s rapid ascension to stardom has put him in the All-Star and All-NBA discussions over the first month of the season. As a result, head coach JJ Redick challenged the Lakers’ star to take on more leadership, and Reaves has been up to the task.
“The biggest thing was him taking a step forward as a leader and recognizing that it’s as much his team as it is LeBron’s team or Luka’s team … You’re no longer the undrafted guy who’s a young player. You’re one of the [main] guys now, and he’s been very responsive to that,” Redick told ESPN.
This season, Reaves has taken significant steps in his playmaking and off-the-dribble creation. With him and Dončić leading the way, the Lakers are playing their best basketball in years, and James has yet to return. This performance could result in a special season for Los Angeles, which might further incentivize Reaves to remain in a Lakers uniform for the long term.