Austin Reaves was treated like a rockstar by the spectators in the Philippines during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and his performance matched his greeting.

Even though Team USA fell short of the podium, Reaves’ improbable rise to popularity continued, starting up where he left off during the Lakers’ 2023 Western Conference Finals run.

He was one of Team USA’s most consistent players, averaging 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while posting 56.6/50.0/94.9 (field goals/3-pointers/free throws) shooting splits.

Reaves was a consistent source of offense, making an impact with or without the ball in his hands. He served as a secondary playmaker for the Lakers, scoring off the dribble, creating open looks for his teammates, and knocking down open triples when called upon.

His performances on the international stage have fueled hope for his third season with the Lakers, a season that will begin with high expectations after Reaves inked a four-year, $56 million contract before leaving for the FIBA World Cup.

His breakout performance in the tournament has shifted Most Improved Player odds ahead of the 2023-24 season, but is the Reaves buzz justified?

2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player Odds

The Reaves hype train has left the station, as evidenced by the NBA’s Most Improved Player odds.

According to BetMGM, Reaves is tied for fifth-best odds to win the award, trailing only Nets big Mikal Bridges, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, and Wizards guard Jordan Poole.

Reaves intends to follow in the footsteps of Lauri Markkanen. After a strong showing in the 2022 EuroBasket, the Jazz forward was named an All-Star last season and received the 2022-23 Most Improved Player title.

And Reaves moving up to Most Improved is not out of the question

Reaves averaged 13.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game with the Lakers last season. He exceeded expectations as an undrafted second-year player, and he performed an excellent job of providing depth behind Los Angeles’ larger names.

Reaves had outgrown his role as a super-sub by the end of the season, and head coach Darvin Ham had no choice but to place him into the starting lineup.

During the postseason, the 25-year-old really hit his stride, averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game as a crucial catalyst in the Lakers’ deep playoff run.

If Reaves can maintain those numbers — or perhaps better — throughout the season, he’ll be in the running for the award. However, his perception of competition is correct.

Bridges appeared to be a productive No. 1 scoring option after being dealt from Phoenix to Brooklyn, averaging 26.1 points per game after moving from 17.2 points per game with the Suns to 26.1 points per game with the Nets.

Because of James Harden’s trade, Maxey is expected to be the 76ers’ primary perimeter creator this season.

Poole, who was moved from Golden State to Washington this offseason, will most likely be the Wizards’ go-to scorer with the greenest of green lights.

And then there’s Cunningham, who is coming off a season-ending injury but showed promise during his first season in 2021-22.

The road to the Most Improved Player title in 2023-24 appears to be congested, but Reaves’ case could be one of the strongest in the field.

If the FIBA World Cup is any indicator, he’s primed for a big season.