[Saba Sports News] Austin Reaves is leveraging his growing international fame for significant business opportunities. As reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Reaves, a popular player with the Los Angeles Lakers, has renegotiated his contract with the Chinese sportswear brand Rigorer. This new agreement elevates him to part-owner of the company. Additionally, he is set to introduce new color variations in his AR1 signature sneaker line with Rigorer, expected to launch this week.
Reaves, 25, originally partnered with Rigorer in June of the previous year. Charania noted at the time that Reaves’ initial deal with Rigorer was valued in the seven-figure range. Rigorer, primarily a basketball-focused sporting goods brand, also produces a range of protective gear. The company, headquartered in Singapore, offers various merchandise for teams in Singapore’s National Basketball League (NBL).
Reaves’ journey in basketball has been impressive. Starting as an undrafted player who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in 2021, he quickly secured a standard contract, becoming a valuable player for the Lakers in both his rookie and sophomore seasons.
Now in his third year, Reaves has secured a $54 million contract with the Lakers and the profitable part-ownership in Rigorer, marking a significant turnaround for someone who was once colloquially known as “Hillbilly.”