Austin Reaves

$54 million richer after signing a four-year extension in 2023, Austin Reaves was unlikely to find much he couldn’t buy himself for the holidays. Though, having a game-winning layup and a triple-double tucked under December 25, 2024’s tree certainly made for a thoughtful gift from the basketball gods. Playing with fire after watching his team’s nine-point lead in the final minute-and-a-half diminish into a tie, Reaves showcases the ice in his veins, readying himself for a game-deciding mano-a-mano against Andrew Wiggins. Swift in his first step, Reaves gets just the opening needed to close the door on the Golden State Warriors in style, working a heavy-traffic, underhanded finger roll off the glass to secure a victory. Nearly brought to tears at the postgame presser that followed, Reaves was nothing short of historic in the Los Angeles Lakers’ storybook win. The final tally included 26 points (on 8-of-20 shooting), 10 rebounds, and 10 assists — the 10th-ever triple-double on Christmas — alongside one steal and four 3-pointers.