Despite turning down a contract extension with the Lakers, Austin Reaves reiterates that he wants to be with the team for his entire career.
“It’s a business at the end of the day. That doesn’t mean that I don’t wanna be in LA. I wanna be in LA for my whole career. And hopefully we can make that happen,” Reaves said this week when asked about turning down the Lakers’ four-year, $89 million extension.
Austin Reaves on turning down an extension with the Lakers:
"It's a business at the end of the day. That doesn't mean that I don't wanna be in LA. I wanna be in LA for my whole career. And hopefully we can make that happen." pic.twitter.com/La7uUYNI2y
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) September 29, 2025
His heart is clearly in LA, but he has to make sure he does what’s best for him. He is making a smart business decision.
Understanding His Contract Situation
At 26, Reaves is betting on himself. He is currently in the third year of a four-year, $54 million contract he signed with the Lakers in 2023, following his breakout playoff run. Under the NBA’s collective bargaining rules, the Lakers were limited in how much they could offer him in an early extension. This capped their offer at four years for $89 million. That figure is significantly less than what he could earn if he waits until his current deal ends and enters unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026.
If he continues to improve and solidify his role as a key starter, he could command a far larger contract that could potentially reach nine figures on the open market. His decision was not about leaving Los Angeles, but about maximizing his future earnings while hoping that the Lakers would still be the team willing to meet his market value.
A Consistent Message of Loyalty
Reaves’ recent remarks weren’t the first time he’s expressed a desire to stay. Over the last two seasons, he’s echoed the same sentiment again and again:
“I want to play my whole career in LA”.
“He wants to be a Laker for life”.
“I want to be a Laker for life”.
Those aren’t just scattered quotes — they’re the through-line of a player who has consistently said he envisions his entire career in purple and gold.
More Than a Contract
The contract table may be all numbers and clauses, but Reaves’ loyalty toward the Lakers is rooted in the same childhood dream that once had him mimicking Kobe in the driveway.
Austin Reaves might be the best homegrown Lakers player since Kobe Bryant, an attribute the Lakers organization appears to value. The fact that he’s “our guy” also makes him a fan favorite.
Negotiations may be a business, yet everything about his story — growing up watching Kobe, choosing L.A. as an undrafted rookie, repeatedly voicing his desire to stay — points to someone who wants his career to begin and end in purple and gold.
