The Los Angeles Lakers sorely missed Austin Reaves when he was sidelined for over a month with a calf injury. Reaves’ second calf injury was concerning when he was diagnosed with it, but he didn’t suffer any setbacks during his rehab process and as a result looked 100 percent healthy when he returned earlier this week against the Brooklyn Nets.
Reaves showed no rust in his limited minutes, but he was immediately thrust into a larger role against the Philadelphia 76ers after Luka Doncic was ruled out with lower leg soreness. Without Doncic on the floor, Reaves assumed more offensive responsibility and he delivered in the second half as he led the Lakers’ comeback victory against the 76ers.
Reaves was brilliant offensively, scoring almost at will against the Philadelphia defense but he saved his best for the fourth quarter as he knocked down multiple difficult shots to give the momentum to Los Angeles. Reaves finished the night with a team-high 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line.
After the win, Marcus Smart noted that Reaves’ massive game shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone at this point.
“No, I don’t think these performances surprise anyone, and they shouldn’t,” Smart said. “AR has made a name for himself and he is a big part of his team and we missed him and I think it shows. To come in the way he did and assert himself was something we needed, especially with Luka going down. We’re definitely not surprised and like I said, anybody in this league that is surprised about AR and his ability, it’s a shame.”
Someone like Smart gets to see how much work Reaves puts behind the scenes, so the praise is warranted given how much Los Angeles needed Reaves in the win. The offense will always run through Doncic first, but Reaves has proven that he can handle more of the offensive load when given the opportunity to do so.
Even when sharing the floor with LeBron James, Reaves is turning into a reliable option when the shot clock starts winding down. The star guard can either get to the rim for layups or fouls, but also has a jumper that defenses need to respect.
It’s not going to be surprising when Reaves declines his player option for the 2026-27 season as he’s more than earned a hefty raise from his current deal. Reaves should have a robust market come the summer, so Los Angeles needs to be prepared to hand him a lucrative contract to keep him in the purple and gold.
Austin Reaves didn’t pay attention to Rich Paul’s comments
Rich Paul is one of the few player agents who isn’t afraid to voice an opinion and he drew eyebrows when he suggested that the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for someone like Jaren Jackson Jr. However, Reaves admitted he didn’t pay attention to Paul’s comments and for good reason as he’s proven the team needs him.
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