Austin Reaves eagerly anticipates two key aspects of the upcoming NBA season: connecting with his fans and integrating with the new additions to the Los Angeles Lakers.
As the team regroups for the first time after the 2023-2024 NBA season, Reaves is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead.
Last April, Reaves left his hometown of Newark, Kansas, embarking on a three-month road trip that included meet-and-greets in Nevada and visits to three countries: Scotland, China, and the Philippines. During his time in China, Reaves signed an agreement with high-performance footwear brand Rigorer.
In the Philippines, Reaves became the brand ambassador for the sports betting app company Arena Plus, before returning to the United States on Sunday. Reflecting on his time in the Philippines, Reaves shared, “We wanted to have an opportunity to come back to the Philippines and be around these amazing people. Arena Plus came up with the idea and got the opportunity done, and I’m excited to be a part of this.”
Reaves signed the agreement with Arena Plus in the presence of Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. President Jasper Vicencio and his representative Andrew Matthew Reilly on Saturday at Shang The Fort in Taguig City. Vicencio expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We welcome Austin Reaves. This shows how far Arena Plus has gone in terms of growth.”
The 6’5” Reaves, who averaged 15.4 points in the previous NBA season, was deeply impressed by the passion of Filipino basketball fans during his participation with Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This experience sparked his interest in giving back to his followers in the Philippines.
Reaves is also excited about returning to Los Angeles and working with the Lakers’ new coach, JJ Redick, who has taken over from Darvin Ham. “Can’t wait to return to LA and be with our new coach, JJ Redick,” Reaves remarked.
The Lakers had a notable 2023-24 season, finishing with a 47–35 record. They won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament by defeating the Indiana Pacers in the championship game, with LeBron James being named the inaugural tournament MVP. The Lakers secured a spot in the playoffs as the seventh seed after beating the New Orleans Pelicans in the Play-In.
