FROM humble beginnings in Cedar Ridge High School in Newark, Arkansas to the bright Hollywood lights in Los Angeles in the NBA to the United States team in the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Austin Reaves has surely come a long way.

Hard work and perseverance paid off for the 26-year-old guard who joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and bagged the coveted NBA championship with all-time great LeBron James and Anthony Davis the same year.

Now, the 6-5 Reaves is back in Manila to enjoy his new-found popularity.

Reaves rekindles his love affair with his avid Filipino fans as the newest ambassador of the popular sports gaming app Arena Plus.

“I never thought in my life to get this far, being from a small town where not many people get the opportunity to do what I’m doing. It’s crazy. Every day I wake up and try to cherish that, sit back, realize what I’m doing, and it’s very special for me.” said Reaves during a press conference at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City last Saturday.

“So to be able to be a brand ambassador for Arena Plus is very special, not just for me but for all of us,” Reaves told a select group of sportswriters invited by the popular online gaming site Arena Plus.

Reaves said playing for the United States team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila and getting cheered on by the local crowd is a memorable experience he will always cherish.

He said the Philippines will always have a special place in his heart.

“I think being here 12 months ago was one of the most important things that boosted my confidence that I’ve ever had,” said Reaves during his first visit to the country.

But Reaves did earn his place.

Although the Americans failed to win the gold in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, Reaves impressed Filipino fans with his 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 22 minutes of action over eight games.

“A year ago, being here and having just the opportunity to play for Team USA, it gave me a boost of confidence. And obviously, coming here and playing well put a higher belief on myself to just continue to take my game to another level,” he said.

“So I just want to say appreciate you all. Ever since we came last year, I remember going through the player introductions, but just the ovation that I got, I was like: ‘Wow, this is very crazy for me; ’You got guys in the team like Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, but my name was obviously the loudest, and it was very special for me.”

Austin said one factor that makes the Filipino players stand out is their pur elove for the game.

“Just the pure love for basketball that all Filipino fans have, and the actual knowledge of basketball is very high. You don’t get that a lot in the States. It’s all about scoring there, but here, you can see multiple things that help teams to be successful.”

Asked about the opportunity to play for the Lakers, who boast of such NBA greats Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Reaves said it is a dream come true.

“Kobe is my favorite player ever. I grew up watching Kobe and wanting to be like Kobe, so obviously, I grew up an LA fan,” admitted Reaves.

“Having the opportunity to play for LA, going to our practice facility, they all have the retired jersey numbers on our wall. Obviously, 8 and 24, so every time I walk in there, I kind of just stop and take a moment and realize that I’m playing for the same organization that Kobe did.”

“And then for LeBron, in my opinion, he’s the greatest player ever. And for him to treat me the way he treats me from day one, it’s very special for me. It’s been nothing but love, and I’ve been able to pick his brain. It’s very special for me to have him as a teammate, and obviously, AD as well, so I cherish all of that stuff.”

Reaves said he is excited to get the opportunity to play with the father and son duo of LeBron and Bronny James.

“It’s crazy to think about. LeBron is 39. For him to just put himself in that position, to have an opportunity to play with his son, it’s special. I know, obviously for him, it’s a very, very big thing.

We’ve had conversations about it. And I know he’ll be extra motivated to be at his peak level, as always.”

Another reason for Reaves’ excitement in returning to Los Angeles is the opportunity to work with the Lakers’ new coach, JJ Redick, who replaced Darvin Ham.

Arena Plus, which serves as partner of PBA, PVL and Gilas Pilipinasas well as Team Philippines in the FIBA World Cup and now the Paris Olympics, welcomed Reaves to the family.

“We believe in Austin’s dedication and professionalism. As the leading sports entertainment app in the country, we only choose the best,” said Jasper Vicencio, president of Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. , who was joined by Reaves’ business representative Aaron Matthew Reilly.

“With Austin, we’ll be able to level up the appreciation of sports, especially for the basketball and NBA fans in the country. Thank you, Austin, for making this incredible milestone possible. We look forward to working with you on more projects to come.”

ArenaPlus also brought Reaves to the Kerry Sports Gym in Shangri-La the Fort for a fan meet called the “Courtside Takeover” in the afternoon.