Lakers’ Austin Reaves Tells Pistons Fan He’s ‘Not Going to Detroit’ in Viral Video

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJune 20, 2024

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Austin Reaves isn’t interested in becoming a member of the Detroit Pistons.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard said as much to a fan, who was trying to recruit him to the Pistons, while golfing on Wednesday:

Tristan @TBeckmann24Austin Reaves was playing in a golf tournament recently and a fan told him “We need you on the Pistons, Austin”.

Reaves responded: “I’m not going to Detroit”

☠️ pic.twitter.com/QS025LufhO

It’s hard to blame him. The Pistons were the NBA’s worst team last season, finishing 14-68, and just fired head coach Monty Williams. The team has some promising young talents, led by Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, but appears to be a long way from competing for playoff berths or championships.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have struggled to get the roster balance right around the star duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but have fought their way into the playoffs the past two seasons nonetheless.

There isn’t a player in the NBA who would say with a straight face that they would rather player for the current iteration of the Pistons over the Lakers. Reaves is no exception.