“From Third Wheel to Lifetime Wifey”: Austin Reaves’ Career-High Night Gets Even Sweeter With Girlfriend Jenna Barber’s Touching Message

Austin Reaves’ career-high night against the Sacramento Kings became sweeter after his girlfriend, Jenna Barber, wrote a touching message for the LA Lakers star on social media.

The Lakers relied on Reaves this Sunday as they faced the Kings with LeBron James and Luka Doncic both sidelined due to injuries. The guard rose to the occasion, leading the Lakers to a 127-120 victory, following a near 51-point triple-double.

Reaves finished the game with 51 points, nine assists and 11 rebounds, shooting 12-for-22, including 6-for-10 from 3-point range. After the game, his girlfriend Jenna Barber shared an old picture of the couple and wrote a touching message, highlighting his performance on Instagram.

“From long-time third wheel to lifetime wifey. Wish you so much happiness and love you forever,” wrote Barber.

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Jenna Barber’s Instagram stories

Reaves has been with Jenna Barber since 2014, as the couple were high school sweethearts and started dating while attending Cedar Ridge High School in Newark.

While the couple usually keeps their relationship out of the spotlight, Barber seldom misses an opportunity to support her NBA boyfriend. The pair also has a shared love of golf, as can be seen from their social media activity.

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“I need 60 tonight”: How Luka Doncic’s pre-game text inspired Austin Reaves’ career-night

Since Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles, he and Austin Reaves seem to have developed a friendship as the two can constantly be seen chirping on the sidelines.

Speaking to the media after his career-high performance against the Kings, Reaves said that Doncic jokingly asked him to score 60 points on Sunday:

“Me and Luka, our whole relationship is just talking trash back and forth. Towards the end of the conversation, he was like I need 60 tonight and I was like hahaha."

Austin Reaves drained two free throws to reach his total of 51 points. Doncic found himself in a similar situation during Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Near the end of the game, the Slovenian guard missed a free throw that would’ve put him at 50 points.

Reaves understandably did not let him live it down and shared his thoughts after being in a similar situation on Sunday:

"I ain't gonna lie, I went to the free throw line and I'm like s*** I better not miss.

The Lakers are 2-1 following Sunday’s win and will return to action on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Edited by Sameer Khan