When Los Angeles Lakers fans get the news that Luka Doncic is going to miss at least a week, the initial expectation might be to worry. After all, the team is a bit shorthanded to start the season with LeBron James already not available. Plus, the bench was looking a bit thin.
The team started 1-1, and that was with Doncic had been putting up his usual superstar numbers. The news of an early-season injury generally doesn’t bode well on the win-loss record. Austin Reaves, the Lakers emerging superstar, had other plans.
Austin Reaves a Worthy Number One Option
The thing is, the Lakers guard putting up monster numbers is not new. Against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, he had himself a game for the ages. Austin Reaves finished with a career-high 51 points, while adding 11 rebounds and nine assists. He hit 21 of 22 shots at the line. And nobody on the other side had any kind of answer for him.
After the Lakers traded Anthony Davis at the deadline last year, the team needed somebody to play like the number one option. And boy did Reaves some through in that way. He had other performances with 40+ points, 10+ assists, and had nobody slowing him down. For a long stretch even before the deadline, he had been regularly producing points-assists double-doubles.
Just two days after the 2025 NBA trade deadline had passed, LA was a little short-handed, but still found a way to climb out on top. That is because they had a casual 45-point performance from Austin Reaves, as they were able to knock off the Indiana Pacers.
Other noteworthy stat-lines from #15 last year included a 38-point night against the Brooklyn Nets, a 37-point, 13-assist night against the Denver Nuggets, and A 35-point, 10-assist showing against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But perhaps the most impressive part of it has been that regardless of the supporting cast, Reaves has risen to the occasion when called upon.
Contending in the West
It’s no secret that the Western Conference is loaded this season. The Nuggets beefed up their roster. The Houston Rockets went out and brought in Kevin Durant. The Los Angeles Clippers made sure to add veterans up and down the roster. Let’s not forget about the Golden State Warriors, with their dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
All of the above, and that doesn’t even include the Timberwolves or Thunder, who battled in the conference finals. As a result, ESPN experts had the Lakers at either the low end of the West’s playoff picture.
A season ago, LA only won a single playoff game. They struggled to make adjustments in the first-round, and the lack of size was too much to overcome against the giant Minnesota team. While one of the best players in the world is missing time early in the new season now, the Lakers are getting a much-needed lift from Austin Reaves. And now they may be able to hang with the big dogs.
Maintaining High Level of Play Appears Feasible
Though three games, Austin Reaves has put up averages of 34 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists per game. He’s also making 56% of shots from the floor, and 44% from three-point land. While this may not necessarily stay, he’s proven enough that when he has to be the top option, he’s capable.
As the Lakers start to get healthy, it will be on Reaves to make sure he remains heavily featured in LA’s offense. As long as that is the case, they should be just fine in the West.
But for now, it appears he’ll be able to continue to play at an All-Star level. And the fans can rejoice.
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