Fewer players made more improvement during the 2022-2023 NBA Season than Austin Reaves.
The Los Angeles Lakers youngster turned heads during his playoff performances, establishing himself as one of the team’s best players.
After his unexpected run, Lakers fans have latched onto Reaves, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
This was recently evidenced by a mural of Reaves in LA, shared recently by Bleacher Report.
Austin Reaves mural in LA ?
(via gz.jr/IG) pic.twitter.com/a0j21d7fRX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 29, 2023
This mural features five images of Reaves, four with a Lakers jersey on, and one representing his time with Team USA.
Reaves has been a staple of Team USA during the FIBA World Cup, growing his popularity across the league.
He had also been rumored to be in a relationship with Taylor Swift, recently proven untrue.
Even though this rumor was just a rumor, it indicates that Reaves is a popular player, confirming fan engagement with him.
While he still has a few obligations with Team USA, Reaves’ focus will quickly shift to the Lakers, who have a lot of work to do.
The Lakers’ title window is still open, as many analysts believe they will always have a chance with LeBron James on the floor.
However, that window is closing, as James and Anthony Davis aren’t getting any younger.
Reaves hopes to use the knowledge he gained in the playoffs and the FIBA World Cup to best contribute to the Lakers.
They landed just short of an NBA Finals berth last season and will work desperately to get back to the top of the league’s mountaintop.
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