Lakers officially complete $185 million contract to set undrafted free agent record

Lakers officially complete $185 million contract to set undrafted free agent record originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Lakers officially completed a big deal of business on Sunday.

Austin Reaves has signed his record-setting contract.

The four-year, $185 million deal is the most money ever signed for by an undrafted free agent.

The move became official in the NBA’s transaction log on Sunday, and the Lakers put out an official release, as well:

Austin Reaves is officially back with the #Lakers: pic.twitter.com/E3nJ4ZFzc6

— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakJr) July 12, 2026

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Reaves was undrafted out of Oklahoma but has become a foundational piece for the Lakers.

In 2025-26, he averaged 23.3 points per game for L.A.

“Austin’s relentless pursuit of improvement, fierce competitiveness and commitment to winning have made him an integral part of our organization,” Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said in the team statement announcing the contract. “From the moment he joined the Lakers, Austin has embodied the work ethic and selfless approach that define our culture. We’re thrilled to continue building with him as a cornerstone of our team as we pursue our championship goals.”

Reaves will become even more crucial for the Lakers going forward. LeBron James has departed, so it’s the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves show.

To reach their ceiling as a team, the Lakers will need Reaves to continue growing and thriving.

He’s now got a big payday to prove just how important he is in Los Angeles.

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