What could be more beautiful for a Basketball player at Christmas? This night, Austin Reaves gave himself the greatest gift with a “game winner” on the Warriors floor, scored at the last second! Stephen Curry had just equalized but the Lakers guard went to the circle to referee this legendary duel between Curry and LeBron.
“Austin is a competitor who is afraid of nothing”underlines JJ Redick. “And from the very beginning of his career, he wasn’t afraid of big moments, big matches or having the ball in his hands. He enjoys that as a competitor. »
Author of his first career triple-double with his 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Austin Reaves did not expect, precisely, to have the ball in his hands for this last possession. “The system wasn’t for me,” he confirms. “We were trying to give the ball to Bron at the top of the racket. But Draymond stopped it, and I think Wiggins anticipated it a little too. Then, when I got the ball, five seconds is a long time in basketball. And the last thing you want is to act too early… Because something can always happen, you can miss a shot, you can throw the ball into touch, and then you give Steph an opportunity to take a shot by 20 yards, which would be a horrible way to lose. So I really wanted to take the last shot and get a good angle. »
The whole family in front of their screen
The tenth player in history to score a triple-double on Christmas Eve, the hero of the evening admits that he almost cried… “ I'm not really an emotional person, but when I was doing the interview, sitting on the scorer's table, I received the match ball, I threw it to [D’Angelo Russell]and there was a brief moment where I thought I might cry. And that doesn't happen often. But it's Christmas, I know my parents are home watching. I know my brother is probably in Germany right now. I know everyone close to me at home is online, sitting with family watching the game, and that means a lot to me. »
And Austin Reaves recalls that his career resembles a… Christmas story. “I say it all the time, I’m not necessarily supposed to be in this position. I got lucky, got my foot in the door and took advantage of the opportunity. And now here I am, at Christmas, with a decisive basket and a triple-double. And really, it's the victory that matters the most to me. »
| Austin Reaves | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | LAL | 61 | 23 | 45.9 | 31.7 | 83.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.3 |
| 2022-23 | LAL | 64 | 29 | 52.9 | 39.8 | 86.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 13.0 |
| 2023-24 | LAL | 82 | 32 | 48.6 | 36.7 | 85.3 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 15.9 |
| 2024-25 | LAL | 25 | 34 | 43.8 | 35.5 | 80.9 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| Total | 232 | 29 | 48.4 | 36.3 | 84.9 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 13.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
