Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves and JJ Redick Reflect on Proving Themselves Throughout Their NBA Careers

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves is one of the best third options in the NBA, if not the best. His emergence from a rotational player to a starter, has been an interesting journey that we’ve seen so far. He went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, and even though he was offered to be drafted as the 42nd overall pick by the Detroit Pistons, he declined the offer and signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers instead. Reaves declined the offer from the Pistons because he wanted a roster spot, but the Pistons also offered him a two-way contract instead. Since then he’s gone on to become one of the elite guards in the NBA, who’s contributed tremendously to his franchise’s success.

Meanwhile, JJ Redick is also a former NBA player who is now the rookie head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. When he played in the NBA, he was one of the best 3-point specialists and played for 15 seasons in the NBA. Redick ranks 18th in all-time 3-pt percentage with 41.1, and is considered by many to be one of the best shooters during his playing career. After his NBA career, JJ Redick was hired as the head coach for the purple and gold and now immediately in his first season, he’s led the Lakers to maintain the third seed in the Western Conference, and he’s proven time and time again why he most likely is an extremely great coach in the making for years to come.

Also Read: NBA’s 2024-2025 Most Valuable Player Race: Who Should Win the Award This Season?

Austin Reaves was tryna tell JJ way beforehand

"Everbody would be like I got the white, I'm like it's gon be hell"

45 POINTS
7 Rebounds
7 Assists

While being guarded by GREAT DEFENDERS pic.twitter.com/lPacdcwsoy
— Cades Attorney 💼👨🏾‍💼 (@CadesAttorney) February 9, 2025

Apart from being acquainted with each other because of being in the same team, Reaves and Redick also have battled a lot of adversity in their careers. so let us take a deeper look.

Reaves and Redick on Battling Doubts and Earning Respect in the NBA

NBA is one of the toughest leagues to survive in and we’re not only talking about physically but also mentally. Players who cannot handle the pressure of playing in the best basketball league in the world, are typically waived away in a matter of just a couple of seasons. And this goes to any player, regardless of their skin colors.

The NBA has a lot of diversification, and we have seen a lot of people from different countries come into the NBA and become a star. However, there is this notion in the NBA that white players or Caucasians aren’t as talented, compared to the black people. While there are stars such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Larry Bird, and various other talent white players, the fact remains that not all the Caucasians who come into the NBA find similar level of success.

So to highlight that point, Austin Reaves recently said “As a white guy in the NBA, I sometimes look at white players and I’m like, ‘They’re not very good.’ So, it’s a stigma that I think is real.”

Head coach Redick added “I think every guy in our shoes has experienced some level of this where you’re going to be tested. And truthfully, no matter how many times you pass that test, you’re going to be tested again.”

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Compared to the amount of black NBA players that have gone into the Hall of Fame, the amount of white NBA players who have done the same, is quite less. So when it comes to Reeves and Reddick’s statement, they are absolutely right because the league today, does not have that many white players to begin with, and the ones that are playing in the NBA, may not be an elite player. While there are some white players that are playing great in the NBA today, for example; Sabonis, Herro, Sengun, Reaves, Jokic, Doncic, and Franz Wagner, the fact remains that this is quite less compared to the amount of black NBA stars today.

Also Read: What is the most points scored in a quarter in NBA by a team?

Austin Reaves

JJ Redick

Los Angeles Lakers

NBA

Eric Divakaran

nba

nfl

mma

I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.