Lakers' Austin Reaves Makes Announcement on Friday

As Reaves continues to rise and establish himself as one of the league’s best players, his profile has expanded beyond basketball.

On Friday, he announced a new partnership with YoungLA, a Los Angeles-based fitness and streetwear brand. Reaves became the first NBA athlete to serve as an ambassador for the company, sharing the news on Instagram.

“We made it to the big leagues Introducing our first NBA Athlete to the YoungLA Family! @austinreaves12 X YoungLA ,” the post read.

While the off-court recognition highlights Reaves’ growing star power, the Lakers’ priority remains getting him back healthy.

His scoring, playmaking and ability to complement Doncic are essential to Los Angeles’ hopes of stabilizing in the Western Conference. The team’s playoff aspirations hinge on his return, making his recovery one of the season’s most important storylines.

Fortunately, that return appears close. Head coach JJ Redick noted earlier this week that Reaves has been “progressing well,” with his comeback expected during the team’s upcoming road trip (h/t Dave McMenamin of ESPN).

Looking ahead, the Lakers also have the ability to go over the salary cap to re-sign Reaves this offseason, a key advantage given that he has spent his entire career in Los Angeles.

His journey remains one of the league’s most inspiring, joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent and steadily carving out a role that has blossomed into stardom.

Now in his fifth season, Reaves has become a fixture for the franchise, consistently improving his efficiency and expanding his game. This year he has taken another step forward, and the Lakers will look for him to regain that rhythm once he returns to the lineup.