In a backlight assembly and a display apparatus having the backlight assembly, the backlight assembly includes a light source, a light guide, a first reflector, and an optical unit. The light guide is disposed adjacent to the light source, extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal direction of the light source, and refracts light emitted from the light source. The first reflector is disposed under the light guide and reflects the refracted light toward the optical unit. The optical unit is disposed over the first reflector such that an empty space is formed between the optical unit and the first reflector.