Since going undrafted in 2021, Reaves has slowly but steadily fought his way up, now rising to the moment with big shots and big plays for the Lakers this season.
The Lakers have been one of the elite teams this season, sitting at the No. 2 seed in the West with a 16–6 record—their best start in the last four years—thanks in large part to Austin Reaves. From averaging just 7 points as a rookie, Reaves has elevated every part of his game, now posting career-best marks across the board with 5.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists, while also emerging as one of the league’s top scorers. He’s putting up 29.3 points per game, ranking fifth in league scoring this season and recently surpassing multi-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Reaves opened the season with a 40-point and a 50-point
Reaves’s mark on the Lakers’ offense couldn’t be more obvious. He opened the season with a 40-point outing against the Blazers and later erupted for 50 against the Kings. Most recently, he notched another 40-point game against the No. 3-seed Raptors, adding 5 threes, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists—becoming just the third player in franchise history to reach those numbers in a single game. His impact was even bigger when serving as the primary option, averaging an incredible 41.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 10 assists on 50/40/90 shooting in four games without Luka.
He also continues to show the ability to rise to any challenge. Against a red-hot Boston squad, he finished with his eighth 30-point performance of the season despite the absence of two of their top players.
If he maintains this pace, he’s not only positioning himself for his first All-Star selection but also making a strong case as an All-NBA candidate. On top of that, at just 27, Reaves is entering his prime, and fans can expect even more exciting performances.
