Austin Reaves Is Stepping Out Of the Shadow Of LeBron James: Will He Fail Or Fly?

Austin Reaves rejected an $89 million contract extension from the Los Angeles Lakers. It is not a spreadsheet move. It screams ambition. Dude wants to see if he’s a superstar or another bus rider. Is this the James Harden-Rockets leap, the Kobe-after-Shaq moment? Or is he another Jordan Poole, where everyone’s hyped until he gets to lead and looks mortal?

The Money Play: Betting Big On Himself!

Reaves is coming off a career year averaging 20.2 points, nearly 6 assists, 4.5 boards a night, and a not-bad 38% from deep. Plus, he was bombing threes at a clip nobody else on the Lakers could touch. Especially during that late-season heater where he put up 25 a night when LeBron James and Luka Doncic were out.

So, instead of cashing in now, he’s saying, “I’ll wait, thanks,” chasing a max contract later. It’s classic don’t settle for what’s on the table when your stock’s rising. If he keeps trending up, $27–30 million a year is realistic in 2026. Big risk, big reward. You have to respect the guts.

James Harden Type Improvement

Think about Harden. He went from “third wheel” in OKC to an absolute bucket in Houston. That is what Reaves is eyeing as he looks to break out once he is not orbiting around James’ gravity. There’s evidence: those 17 games with no James or Doncic, Reaves went off. He was creating his shot, and fans losing their minds with MVP chants. You cannot fake that.

And the Kobe comp after Shaq left? Sure, it’s not a 1-to-1 comparison, but you see the idea. He went from a third option to a franchise centerpiece. JJ Redick even called Reaves “the third man.” The flashes are there. He is taking on more of the offense, showing some real juice. There are signs he can be a top scorer in the NBA.

The Caution Signs: Poole and Grant!

Not every “next man up” story works out. Poole looked like the greatest thing ever in Golden State until he got the green light in the nation’s capital and, well, started chucking it like he was in a pickup game. All that promise fizzled.

Jerami Grant bet on himself. He left a great gig as a role player next to Nikola Jokic to chase the money. He never quite hit that next level. Reaves has to avoid these traps. He needs to evolve, not shoot more. Otherwise, you’re looking at a slightly richer, as-forgettable career.

Why Reaves Might Pull It Off!

Here’s what he has working for him:

Hoops IQ: James trusts him in crunch time, which says a great deal. He is smart, doesn’t force dumb plays, and reads the floor.

Swiss Army Knife Vibes: He cuts, he passes, he plays nice with everyone AD, Luka, whoever. Coaches love that stuff.

Playoff Chops: Reaves went from undrafted nobody to a legit playoff piece, putting up 17 a game when it matters.

Lead Guard Proof: When he’s running the show, the numbers look good. He can score in iso and is not a system guy.

What’s Next: Star Or Sidekick?

If Reaves adds more playmaking and is steadier under pressure, he can dig into those Larry Bird fundamentals he is already close to mastering. Reaves could be a “third banana” turned superstar. But if he just keeps doing the pretty good, sometimes great thing, he’s Poole then. Fun, and valuable, but not getting that supermax. If he gets stuck in comfort mode, we’re talking Jerami Grant.

The Real Bottom Line!

Reaves is at a make-or-break moment. He’s got the trust, the skills, and, honestly, the hunger. The dude wants more, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is. He could break through and finally step out of LBJ’s shadow or he could just fade into that solid but unspectacular and overpaid zone.

Either way, you have to love the gamble. “Hillbilly Kobe” is betting on himself. We’ll find out soon enough if that’s just a catchy nickname or the start of something wild.