Austin Reaves Just Got $185 Million. He Says He’s Not Changing a Thing.

Austin Reaves signed a $185 million extension with the Lakers a few weeks ago. Most people would immediately think about a new house, a flashy car, or maybe a yacht. Reaves is not most people.

In a recent interview with the California Post, Reaves talked about his plans for the money. It wasn’t about jewelry or a garage full of Lamborghinis. He mentioned something else entirely.

“I’m not super into it. I got into SpaceX a couple years ago. With that going public, that was good. But I don’t really know much about it. I just let [financial advisors] take care of it, and hopefully they make me some money,” Reaves said.

That’s about as low-key as a guy with nine figures in the bank can sound. He let his advisors handle the details and basically shrugged about it. Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying to figure out how to pronounce his last name correctly.

Reaves made it clear that the massive payday won’t change his day-to-day life. He’s not the type to blow cash on status symbols. He’s the same guy who came out of nowhere, went undrafted, and grinded his way into the Lakers rotation. That mentality isn’t going anywhere just because the check cleared.

Life after LeBron

Here’s the thing about that extension. It’s not just about money. It’s about the Lakers shifting their entire identity. With LeBron James officially out of the picture, Reaves slides into the No. 2 role behind Luka Doncic. That’s a lot of pressure for a guy who was a second-round pick that didn’t even get drafted.

Some people still don’t think he deserved that contract. And yeah, there are skeptics. But what are they going to do? Tell him to give the money back? Reaves has already proven he can handle the big moments. The playoffs last season showed that he’s not scared of the stage.

The Lakers are trying to stay competitive with teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Both of those rosters are young, hungry, and loaded with talent. The Lakers need Reaves to take another leap. Not just offensively, but as a leader. He’s not the quiet role player anymore. He’s the guy the ball goes through when the shot clock is running down.

So what does he do with the cash? Invest in space travel and keep buying the same groceries. That’s the Reaves way. It might not make for a good reality show, but it’s working for him.