Austin Reaves’s 300-acre Arkansas property before he signed a $54 million contract with the Lakers

Ever since he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers a few years ago, Austin Reaves has grown to be a fan favorite. He is an important member of the rotation as the Lakers get ready for the start of the regular season next week because of his exceptional three-point shooting and ability to provide something extra to the team’s style of play.

Austin Reaves at the family house in Newark, Arkansas (Photo credit: Steven Jones / For The Times)

He did not, however, have an easy time becoming famous as a member of the 17-time NBA winners. Before signing with the Lakers in the summer of 2021, Reaves was not selected.

Prior to that, he was raised on his mother’s 300-acre farm in Newark, Arkansas, and had to decide between farming and going into another line of work. The young guard didn’t want to become a farmer, despite the fact that his mother’s farm in Arkansas is remarkable. Below are a few pictures of the farm:

In the end, he decided to pursue a career in basketball. Austin Reaves was rewarded with a new, $44 million, four-year contract with the Lakers for his role as a vital member of the rotation.

In Photos: Austin Reaves' 300-acre farm life in Arkansas before signing  $54,000,000 Lakers deal

According to Austin Reaves, he had no intention of leaving the Lakers in free agency.

Despite becoming a free agent, Austin Reaves was unwilling to sign with a another club, even though he was open to other offers. He wanted to remain a long-term member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Reaves and his mother, Nicole Wilkett, playing basketball in their 300-acre farm (Photo credit: Steven Jones / For The Times)

Reaves said on the Lowe podcast with Zach Lowe, “You know, it definitely creeps into your mind, obviously, when there’s a little bit of talks back and forth about, you know, something possibly coming to light.”However, I didn’t believe the Lakers could have matched any offer in any manner. It was quite obvious from the start that they would match anything. After giving it some thought, I ultimately decided that I wanted to live in Los Angeles.”

Some people still think he’s overrated, even after his stellar 2022–2023 season with the Lakers. The youthful star guard, however, views it as typical and draws further inspiration from this uncertainty.

Austin Reaves in his300-acre farm in Newark, Arkansas (Photo credit: Steven Jones / For The Times)

“To succeed, you’re paid that much. And it’s clear that some people believe I wasn’t worthy of it. .. “You just [get] fuel off of that when you hear those things,” Reaves said in a conversation with The Ringer’s Mirin Fader.He’s among my best friends. He was very well appreciated by us. “We were not in favor of him moving on to another place,” Lakers owner Jeannie Buss said to Fader and The Ringer.

Austin Reaves has come a long way from a tiny Arkansas town to Lakers 'MVP!'

Austin Reaves is coming off a season in which he shot 52.9 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from outside the arc to average 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 64 games. He also made his debut with Team USA this past summer, participating in the FIBA World Cup in which the Americans placed fourth.