When Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sat out for a significant number of games this NBA season, Luka Doncic was only partly responsible for the team's continued success. Guard Austin Reaves also continued to show his emergence as the third star on the roster, and that recently drew some major remarks from King James.
Reaves, now in his fifth season with the Lakers, has participated in 20 of the team's 23 games, averaging 28.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. Last week, he recorded an impressive game with 44 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds to lead the Lakers, who were without Luka and LeBron, to a 123-120 win at Toronto.
A check of the former Oklahoma guard's game logs reveals other stellar outings, including a 51-point performance with 11 rebounds and nine assists in an October win against the Kings. Unsurprisingly, tha t also occurred with Luka and LeBron absent from the lineup, showing the importance of Reaves.
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During a recent episode of "Mind the Game," two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash conducted a fan mailbag session with LeBron. One of the questions that popped up was about King James' assessment of Reaves' growth as a star with the team.
"I think AR has picked up where he left off from," LeBron said when Nash asked if it was due to the offseason work he put in, but credited his level of "confidence" increasing.
"Understanding that his role is going to continue to pick up. M ore usage rate. More responsibility. He's not just one of the guys," he said, adding that Lakers coach JJ Redick is also putting more on Reaves than before.
LeBron mentioned Reaves is also healthier this year; last year, he dealt with a toe injury late in the season, but this year, he's only been out for several games. In addition, he said Reaves focuses on playing golf alongside basketball.
"He has time, and he puts the work in, and then he goes on the golf course and clears his mind, and then he plays basketball, and he clears his mind," King James told Nash.
"He's just a great dude, man. I'm so happy for all the success so far in his career," he said.
Reaves has come a long way since his rookie season, as his averages have increased each season. Many feel his latest season is a body of work that wil l prompt other NBA teams to offer him much more money for his basketball skills.
He's on a four-year, $54 million deal with his current team, but is likely to consider a heftier Lakers contract and 2026 free agency after declining last year's extension.
Nash, an eight-time All-Star who won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award twice with the Phoenix Suns, also called the Lakers guard "incredibly fun to watch" and a great "playmaker" for his teammates.
LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and the Lakers are back on the court on Wednesday night in a quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs for the NBA Cup.
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