LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: LeBron James #6 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk back to the court after a timeout during a 111-104 Indiana Pacers win at Crypto.com Arena on January 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been playing much better basketball during the second half of the season and one reason why is the emergence of second-year wing Austin Reaves.
Reaves has played extremely well recently and has earned his flowers from fans enjoying his play on the court.
However, former player Rashad McCants had some harsh words to say about him while bringing up his race during a recent appearance on “Gil’s Arena.”
“I ain’t apologizing I was cussing y’all out last night. ‘What? Stop it! Austin (Reaves) what? $50 million?’ At four (years) for $25 (million), he’s stealing. I’m like Austin Reaves…? Nah! Franciso Garcia got that sh*t. Y’all giving ($50 million) to him ’cause one he’s white and one he playing with the (Los Angeles) Lakers and they trash. So it’s like, if the Lakers ain’t trash, he ain’t playin’.”
LeBron James had spent the last 13 games nursing a foot injury, which opened the door for Austin Reaves.
Reaves is averaging 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game since the first of March. He’s hitting 53% of his shots as the Lakers won eight of 12 games in that stretch.
Austin Reaves had 25 PTS and a career-high 11 AST in the win vs the Suns!
AR-15's Last 4 Games
25 PTS, 11 AST, 2 TO (60% FG)
35 PTS, 6 AST, 6 REB (64% FG)
16 PTS, 5 REB, 1 TO (63% FG)
24 PTS, 7 AST, 1 TO (43% FG)pic.twitter.com/axVwaYM2nC— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 23, 2023
Reaves is set to be a free agent this summer. The Lakers are able to offer him a maximum of $50 million over four years.
McCants spent six years in the NBA after being drafted No. 14 overall, and then went on to play in Puerto Rico, the Philippines, China, Brazil, Lebanon, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. For his career, he averaged 10 points per game, 1.3 assists and two rebounds per game over six seasons with the Timberwolves and Kings.
