Oklahoma Professional Athletes

Oklahoma alumni are making noise across the NBA this preseason, and the storylines couldn't be more different — a freshly paid star returning from injury in L.A., a point guard with Finals ambitions in Washington, and a young Pelican turning defensive heads in New Orleans.

Austin Reaves: $180M Man Makes His Return

The biggest Sooner story of the week had nothing to do with a box score. Austin Reaves locked in a five-year, $180 million extension with the Lakers this offseason — a deal that survived reported interest from the Detroit Pistons — and then finally suited up for his preseason debut against the Sacramento Kings on October 5. The Lakers won 114-110, and while Reaves was predictably rusty after his absence, his presence alone settled questions about the team's backcourt heading into 2026-27.

Reaves enters the season as Luka Doncic's primary co-star, with the two already generating chemistry storylines. Reaves revealed this week that Doncic was notably "sheltered" after his trade from Dallas — "We didn't really speak" — before the relationship blossomed into one of the league's more dynamic backcourt partnerships. Reaves has even joked about paying fans to trash-talk Doncic to unlock what he calls "Super Saiyan energy" from the Slovenian superstar. Teammate Sandro Mamukelashvili described the Reaves-Doncic combination as a core offensive engine capable of making a serious title push. Lakers coach JJ Redick, for his part, is managing the roster carefully amid Walker Kessler's finger injury — but getting Reaves back healthy is the headline win of the week.

There was one eyebrow-raising subplot: Reaves was spotted wearing Nike Kobe sneakers during the preseason game rather than his signature Rigorer shoes, prompting speculation that his sneaker deal may be on its way out.

Trae Young: Wizards or Bust

In Washington, Trae Young isn't hedging. The four-time All-Star made clear this week that his goal for 2026-27 is simple: reach the NBA Finals. That's not idle preseason talk — the Wizards gave Young real ammunition this offseason, assembling a "Big 3" alongside Anthony Davis and top rookie AJ Dybantsa. The trio's preseason debut against the Knicks drew strong reviews, with Young torching New York in a performance that had ESPN's Kendrick Perkins making bold predictions about Washington's ceiling.

The Sporting News noted that Washington has "a legitimate core entering 2026-27 for the first time in a while," and Davis dispelled any trade rumors by committing fully to the Wizards' rebuild-turned-contention window. Whether Young's Finals aspirations are realistic is debatable, but the infrastructure around him is no longer laughable — and that alone is a meaningful shift for a franchise that has been a punchline for most of the decade.

Jeremiah Fears: The One to Watch in New Orleans

The youngest Sooner in the league is quietly building a preseason reputation. Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears shone in New Orleans' preseason loss to the Heat, with Sports Illustrated flagging him as a breakout candidate despite the team's broader struggles. New head coach Jamahl Mosley is pushing Fears hard on the defensive end — a deliberate challenge designed to elevate his overall game, per ClutchPoints. The Pelicans' starting lineup still has questions, but Fears is not one of them. He's emerging as the kind of player who makes the roster better just by being on the floor — and at this stage of his career, that's exactly the trajectory Oklahoma fans should want to see.

Oklahoma alumni are making noise across the NBA this preseason, with Trae Young and Austin Reaves commanding the biggest headlines — and Buddy Hield quietly putting on a shooting clinic in Chicago.

Trae Young's Fresh Start in Washington

The blockbuster trade that sent Trae Young from Atlanta to Washington was always going to follow him into training camp, and Young hasn't tried to outrun it. Speaking publicly during Wizards camp, the former Sooner got candid about one of the more persistent knocks on his game: defense. Young acknowledged his defensive shortcomings but expressed optimism that Washington's roster construction could help limit the damage he creates on that end — a notable shift in self-awareness for a player who has often drawn criticism for being a liability.

On the Atlanta front, Young left the door open for a future reunion with the Hawks, telling reporters, "You never know." It's the kind of quote that will generate headlines for years, but for now, his focus is squarely on proving he can anchor a winning culture in D.C.

The Wizards' front office is clearly building around him. NBA scouts are already eyeing what Young's partnership with Anthony Davis could mean for the franchise — and for the development of top prospect AJ Dybantsa. One scout told Sports Illustrated the Young-Davis duo "could be a problem" for opponents. Whether that translates to wins in a rebuild remains to be seen, but the star power is undeniable.

Austin Reaves: The Lakers' Cornerstone

In Los Angeles, Austin Reaves is entering 2026-27 as one of the Lakers' three confirmed starters alongside Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler — a cemented role that reflects how far the former undrafted guard has come. Head coach JJ Redick has made the trio the foundation of his training camp structure, with two starting spots still up for competition around them.

Reaves has wasted no time asserting himself as a vocal leader. Two days into camp, he was already sounding the alarm — in the best way — about the team's defensive potential, singling out newcomers Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams as players who are making life miserable for offensive players in practice. His praise of Williams was effusive enough that the 3-and-D wing is now being tipped as a likely starter.

Off the court, Reaves' chemistry with Doncic continues to be one of the more entertaining subplots in the league. In a moment that went viral, Reaves jokingly said he "hates" Doncic's guts after the superstar drained five consecutive half-court shots during a live interview. It's the kind of genuine camaraderie that's hard to manufacture — and it speaks to the bond at the core of what the Lakers are trying to build.

Buddy Hield: Still a Human Flamethrower

Don't sleep on Buddy Hield, who landed in Chicago via a multi-team trade and wasted zero time making an impression. On Day 1 of Bulls training camp, Hield went 23-for-25 from three-point range in practice — a performance that gave a Bulls fanbase badly in need of hope something to get genuinely excited about. His path to Chicago was winding, moving through Atlanta and Charlotte before landing with the Bulls, but the shooting stroke clearly didn't get lost in transit.

Three Sooners, three compelling storylines. Norman's NBA footprint has never looked bigger.

Two Oklahoma Sooners are making noise as the 2026-27 NBA season approaches — for very different reasons. Austin Reaves is the face of a Lakers franchise in transition, locked in and being groomed for stardom. Buddy Hield, meanwhile, has become the offseason's most-traded player, switching addresses twice in one week.

Austin Reaves: $314M Man With All-Star Ambitions

Reaves enters training camp as the clearest sign of what the post-LeBron Lakers are betting on. His five-year, $314 million extension raised eyebrows — Heavy Sports noted the Lakers received a bruising C- offseason grade partly because of the deal's size — but the front office isn't flinching. GM Rob Pelinka has publicly stated his goal is for Reaves to earn an All-Star nod in 2026-27, naming him alongside Luka Doncic as the team's two expected All-Stars heading into the season.

Coach JJ Redick is leaning in as well. Redick has singled out Reaves for an expanded leadership role, and praised the fit between Reaves, Doncic, and new acquisition Walker Kessler as a potential cornerstone trio. With LeBron James now gone, Reaves isn't a complementary piece anymore — he's the co-star, and the organization is treating him like one.

Off the court, Reaves was spotted on the golf course with LeBron and Bronny James, a casual reunion that only underscored how central he's become to the Lakers' social fabric even beyond basketball.

The pressure is real. The Lakers are carrying 16 contracts heading into camp — one over the league maximum — and will need to make roster cuts soon. Reaves isn't on that bubble, but the scrutiny around the roster's construction lands squarely on his shoulders as the franchise's second-highest-profile investment.

Buddy Hield: Two Trades, One Week

If Reaves represents stability, Hield is the offseason's most restless traveler. The veteran sharpshooter was first moved from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-player deal that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta and brought Hield and Ryan Nembhard to Charlotte. The ink was barely dry before Charlotte flipped him again — this time to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft.

Hield has now been traded twice this offseason and is on his third team in a matter of days. The Bulls are acquiring him as a known commodity: an elite three-point specialist who gives Chicago reliable perimeter shooting. CBS Sports noted that Dillingham, already on his third NBA team, heads to Charlotte as the upside gamble in the deal.

For Hield, Chicago may finally be a landing spot where his role is clear. At 37 and still shooting at a high clip from deep, he fits the Bulls' need for veteran marksmanship — even if the path to get there was unusually chaotic.

Also Watching: Trae Young in Washington

Trae Young, another Sooner in the league, is settling into his new reality with the Washington Wizards after being traded from Atlanta in January. Young threw subtle shade at his former Hawks teammates this week while making clear he's bought into his role as Washington's primary playmaker. He also kept his name in basketball conversations by wading into the SGA foul-baiting discourse — offering a characteristically colorful "Iron Man" analogy to explain his own game. Young signed a new contract this offseason and is expected to anchor the Wizards' offense as they rebuild.

Oklahoma's NBA footprint is busy heading into the new season — one Sooner is a franchise cornerstone, one is finally finding a home after a whirlwind week, and one is making noise in the nation's capital.

Austin Reaves: Oklahoma's Man in Hollywood

The post-LeBron Lakers have a new cornerstone, and he's a kid from Newark, Arkansas who walked on at Oklahoma. Austin Reaves's $41 million contract extension made it official this offseason: he's not just a fan favorite — he's a franchise pillar alongside Luka Doncic as Los Angeles retools for its next chapter.

The buzz around Reaves this week has been equal parts hype and skepticism. On the positive side, the Lakers announced a Reaves bobblehead night for December — a cultural barometer of fan investment — and new teammate Collin Sexton wasted no time singing his praises, opening up about the qualities that set Reaves apart from the typical shooting guard. Sexton's early admiration matters: it signals locker-room buy-in for a player who will shoulder a heavier offensive load than ever before.

Projections are equally bullish. Yahoo Sports floated whether this could be the season Reaves forces his way back into All-Star conversation, while Heavy Sports confirmed he is one of just three Lakers players guaranteed major minutes alongside Doncic and center Walker Kessler. For a player who once had to fight for a roster spot, that's a remarkable arc.

The doubters, however, are loud. A recent NBA champion delivered a blunt championship warning, arguing the current Lakers roster — Reaves and Doncic included — isn't yet built to win a title. Norman Powell went further, labeling the Lakers the league's most overrated team. And before the season has even tipped off, trade rumors are already being floated: Heavy Sports reported that Reaves could become a trade chip if Los Angeles struggles under the weight of his new deal and inflated expectations.

The front-office backdrop adds another layer of turbulence. The franchise itself changed hands this offseason in a $12.5 billion sale, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver publicly defending new owner Mark Walter following a federal investigation. Stability at the top will matter as JJ Redick navigates a roster built to win now.

The basketball questions are real. Trade pitches targeting an All-Defensive wing to shore up the roster specifically avoided packaging Reaves — a telling sign of his untouchable status. But a bad trade update on a $48 million 3-and-D target this week was a reminder that roster construction around Doncic and Reaves remains a work in progress.

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Jeremiah Fears: Growing Pains in New Orleans

Reaves isn't the only Sooner with something to prove this season. Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears enters Year 2 in New Orleans at a pivotal crossroads. A Sports Illustrated deep-dive this week drew comparisons between Fears and a young Chris Paul — not as a ceiling prediction, but as a developmental framework for what a second season in the league demands from a young point guard still finding his footing. The Pelicans are counting on Fears and fellow sophomore Derik Queen to grow up fast.

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Around the League

Buddy Hield, now with the Hawks after his time with Golden State ended at the trade deadline, remains a peripheral name in league transactions. A Heavy Sports report on Kristaps Porzingis confirmed the Warriors acquired Porzingis from Atlanta in the same deal that sent Hield to Golden State — a transaction that has now fully reshuffled where the veteran sharpshooter calls home.

Trae Young, meanwhile, continues his tenure with Washington. The Wizards' rebuild keeps the former Sooner superstar out of the playoff spotlight for now, though his name remains one of the most recognizable in the league.

The week belonged to Reaves. Whether Hollywood's newest franchise star can survive the scrutiny of a $41 million price tag — and a fanbase hungry for a title — will be the defining Oklahoma story of the 2026-27 NBA season.