How a “Skinny White Kid” Became a Lakers Star 

I love these type of story videos! Now Austin Reaves is the Lakers starting SG!

I love how Austin Reaves plays with such finesse and precision, he's a true master of his craft.

As a Lakers fan, I do agree that Reaves got more attention, partly, because he's white. Same thing that happened with Caruso. But the thing is...he's on the Lakers, the biggest franchise in the NBA. Him and Caruso were massive underdogs and had very little expectations on the team, yet not only did they exceed those expectations, they thrived and have created incredible value behind their names. And yeah, you're completely right: literally any other race playing all star basketball in the NBA is going garner attention because of how much of an oddity it is. It's just human nature.

I never heard about race so much till the last few years 😅 it's literally multiple times a day now, crazy stuff. What happened to it's about what you do, not what you look like?

Austin Reeves is really the only consistent player alongside lebron. Austin is smart and makes the right play. The guy leaves it all on the floor

Like everyone else is saying, this was dope & felt longer than 8 minutes in a good way. Keep it up, will keep watching.

Josh green is an Aussie and as an Aussie I’m glad that so many are in the nba now

I'm a lakers fan. AR is a baller. His color doesn't matter. That guy puts in the work.

Wow thank you so much for this 😍😊I'm his huge fan since rookie days😍❤️

I'm proud of that young man like he was my son.. I had been following Lakers games and enjoyed watching this kid, so I definitely appreciated watching Reaves' backstory! Great commentary as always, A.M. Hoops!

Damn. This video was an absolute BANGER. Amazing job on the background of Austin Reeves! 💯💯

You are one of the best NBA youtubers. Videos with good information, straight to the point and excellent delivery. Liked and subbed.

austin reaves got that myplayer storyline

Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed.

I agree wholeheartedly with your take. Keep being great man 💪🏿

it's almost unbelievable that they got Austin right after Caruso...... If they let him go like Caruso, I'm shaking my head.

Austin reeves is just balling, he’s playing confidently and competitively on a lakers squad that’s been in shambles till Westbrook departure. Reeves is a player who’s cemented a roll on the lakers as a player who makes the right plays and can get you 18-5-5 on a nightly basis. He’s going to very important for the lakers moving forward this postseason(most likely cmon lebrons back) and the next season where they will most likely try to keep it together and make a title run.

Please make a video on why Dallas couldn’t work things out.

I was not expecting such a story. Great video

Austin Reeves makes the right play every time. Early in the season, I said Austin should have been getting more playing time. You need a guy who will get you some rebounds, score some points, play some d, pass the ball, and not turn the ball over.

This seriously was a great video, I love your energy and story telling, everything flows so well, had me hooked the whole time! You just earned a subscriber my friend!

Casey, this video was great man! You are doing an EXCELLENT job!

Your transitions to your previous videos are always so smooth. GG.

Fans like someone that looks like they're giving their all in a game Both Austin and Alex look like they're giving it everything

Starting the day with your freshly uploaded video is a bless

4:13 is one of the nicest transitions I’ve ever seen. As a Laker fan it gave me epic documentary vibes. Subbed.

Great point at the end, love the vids keep it up man

Best basketball channel out there, greetings from Uruguay!

Amazing story and production❤

Never really got to reeves play when he first got to the lakers because of all the superstars on the team. I’m glad this coach gave him a chance to showcase his potential.

Your videos are fantastic. Now I have to follow Reeves career.

Brilliant video. You really do your research! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

I love when AM hoops makes a video🙂

I have a thing for non-point guards who can really pass. Think Jokic, Sabonis, Draymond. Reaves sees the game so well, he could be in that company one day.

Solid content ❤💜💛💯

love these types of story videos keep it up

When the Lakers most needed someone to step up AR15 never backed down. He is having hella of a season. Reaves set a career-high in PTS v Magic and then followed it up with a career-high in AST v Suns. Staying ready 😤 does it on both ends of the floor and brings energy to every game. 🔥💪

I love how every video has a segue to another video you've made

people are forgetting the most like obvious part of both Caruso and now Reaves. They were literally the youngest players on their teams and both were undrafted. Both played along with LeBron as the only non-vet players on their teams and excelled in their roles and opportunities. Does it have to do with their skin color? Probably. But I personally think it has a lot more to do with them being undrafted, and young on an "old" team. In this sport tho, skin color goes both ways, they'll think you're garbage because you're white, or they think you're overrated because you're white.

Glad Austin Still On The Lakers😊

Thank you Russ for passing the ball too Reaves and thank you Rajon as well :)

Dude, you rock. I'm an MLB FAN, though. Best wishes😮😊

Love this feature

He’s a star in the making. He seems like a real one. Fun to watch

Lakers fans have a tendency to hype up mid but Reeves has crazy game sense for someone with his experience level, I hope he balls out in the playoffs at some point to silence the doubters

Came back to this today... He has proven to be on one of the most value contracts in the NBA. He might never be an all-star, but he is exactly the type of player the all-stars want surrounding them. Good explanation of the "race" question in that part of it is genuinely a novelty (what a perfect explanation). He also makes kids from small towns feel like "you never know... Look at Austin Reaves..." because it is so rare for a farmer boy to be an NBA starter.

Love the video! Can you please make a video on how's Russ now performing on the clippers?

Another W take I completely agree with you

Well said

i respect austin reaves. super good hardworking high iq making the most of his talents. he can be a solid role player in this league for a while.

I think your point abt it being a 'novelty' in some ways to have a player of other ethnicities, especially for me one of our own white Americans, is awesome 😂😂 I mean Reaves literally grew up on a farm lmao and now he's dunkin on dudes in a Lakers uniform in the playoffs 🤣🤣🔥🔥🔥

he's a beast

Race has nothing to do with it. It’s the story of underdog, to see how someone overlooked breakthrough and succeed.

I just love the under dog, period. Everyone has a story and I like his

Reminds me of Dale Blaney from WVU in the 80's. Made the Lakers then decided to race Sprint Cars LOL. Now he's a legend in that...crazy.

People are subliminally biased the fact that he’s getting so much love has to do with the fact that there’s a lot of kids online that look like him giving him a lot of love it’s just part of being human

Austin reaves deserve what he getting he definitely developed into a great player!

On the real, ive been waiting on a "skinny white kid" 😂😂 i love all race. Lets go Austin

Perfection A.M. Let’s get a Red Velvet vid next;) Light the BEAM!!

Being from FLA and a HEAT 🔥 fan I don't watch too much Western Conference ball,,,I jokingly say Lakers n LeBron are my #2 team and West Coast team (I like LeBron since he was on Heat and won 2 titles in 305 plus he is Awesome) But I never even knew about Reaves till the playoffs started and now this great video !! I'm a new fan of Austin Reaves now !!!

The bright spot of the Lakers

Steal in and swoop him. Love it!

Hes a super star right now

Don't call him Austin Reaves, call him AR15

I agree with the points you made. Big part of it is also that he is a Laker. I remember a while ago. Lakers fans were convinced 2 1st Round Picks and Talen Horton Tucker would get them any superstar in the league

I barely watch basketball. I can tell Austin Reaves was putting in work.

make a raptors vid pls also love the content

Fan favorite before this video but after this masterpiece I see he’s different now different and meant for more he’s so inspiring and not only that but to me he’s the third option on a legendary team ad and Lebron are some serious to think about when you trying to make a name for yourself and the fact that he’s been able to hang against all odds is nuts! My favorite white boy and I say that with irony cus I believe anyone can make it but his story without race involved is already crazy he could’ve been black hispanic or Peruvian and it would still be a crazy ! story

It's the love of the underdog.

Shame on the scouts for missing this kid. Glad he had the opportunity to step up and make a name for himself.

If this video doesn't do well, it may be the thumb nail, I didn't recognize it as yours for some reason, good luck tho, great vid

I honestly had Austin being a starter in the league when I watched him at Oklahoma.

Hubie Talks Hoops calls him “Mayo Mamba”. I like that

AR just makes the right plays at the right time

I never thought I'd enjoy this channel as much as I do. Typically avoid "gossipy" stuff but the man's just good at storytelling and I love it lol

The NBA game isn't too big for him. He is so composed for a young player, he plays his game

I ❤Austin Reaves it’s always good to see the underdog succeed don’t matter what race they are. Ppl who want to be racist will always be mad when the race they hate succeeds. So it’s not a big deal at all. Ppl are racist

You are absolutely right on this one. While he is being used as a marketing gimmick, and for social talking points which are things we need to talk about, but he has earned his stripes for me. Any true baller player can see he has raw talent. The way he dominated in High School. He feel through the cracks because he didn't make his AUU rounds. That's where the future names are made. But when his college coach said he had "1st round talent" he saw it. LeBron saw it, the team see it. The fans are just still in awe right now. But I think the team will be built around him AD as LeBron phases out but still there like a player coach. But he's about to be paid!!!

What do you mean? Reaves has been on a completely different level since he got playing time. Josh Green in March 9.0 PPG 49.5 fg% 35.0 3fg% 2.1 assists 1.8 Turnovers Austin Reaves in March 17.6 PPG 55.6 fg% 37.6 3fg% 5.9 assists 1.9 turnovers In what world is this even close to comparable?

New video let’s gooooo

Let's not compliment one guy and tear down another. HillyBilly Kobe is inspirational.

i still hope that the Lakers make it to the playoffs and Austin Reeves is actually giving them a big time boost for them and he deserves to be paid big time 100%%%%%

his a great player and will be all-star

Could it be that its just fun to watch him play basketball ?

I don't blame you Austin, get your money bro

Reaves has also been doing his numbers in primetime

Can you pls make a video on the pacers ❤️

Casey please WE BEG YOU to make a video on how the Kyrie trade messed up the Dallas Mavericks , i wanna see that so badly

Austin reeeeeeves

Trae Young is right. Austin is getting a bag this summer. I like he got the word out, _”No ‘hometown’ discount.”_ Lakers are on negotiating notice.

_He's Him!_

Austin Reaves is an excellent player who impacts winning on the Lakers. He can actually carry this team at times. His scoring is more significant than some others who score. Let's stop making everything about race as for as skills and impact are concerned. Now if the money is not appropriate due to race then that a different story to consider.

Austin Reaves deserves $50+ million four-year contract extension

We the black community love Reaves. he’s improved every year and he does remind me of a mixture of all the hall of fame guys he played with heavily influenced by Kobe

Hillbilly Kobe has to be the best nickname ever

Thank you for pointing out the obvious for everyone who refuses to understand it, with all the stuff going on in media these days though I don’t blame the people that automatically assume it’s racism.

Dallas a tanking Lakers needed to win all of them games and Austin stepped up boy

insane underdog story

I love this perspective!! I agree, especially him being an American born white guy… good shit

I wish he just went with AR-15 it’s so cold compared to the other one.