Star guard Austin Reaves will make his return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns after missing three games with a calf strain.
The positive news comes amid Luka Doncic’s injury (left calf contusion), which will keep the Slovenian out of Tuesday’s game.
The injury-ravaged Lakers are also dealing with injuries to Rui Hachimura (groin) and Gabe Vincent (back). However, the good news is Deandre Ayton, who missed the previous two games with an elbow injury, will also return to the starting unit alongside Reaves. The Lakers are expected to start Reaves, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, LeBron James and Ayton — based on head coach JJ Redick’s recent rotation patterns.
Austin Reaves’ Time to Shine
It’s worth noting that Reaves has averaged an astonishing 40.8 points and 9.6 assists in five games without Doncic this season. As such, the undrafted guard will get his opportunity to be the go-to option on Tuesday, especially with Redick playing LeBron James increasingly as an off-ball threat, a cutter and screener.
Reaves’ return will provide a huge boost to a Lakers offense that was extremely stagnant against the Clippers last Saturday after Doncic sat out the second half. Redick’s team shot a dismal 34-of-88 from the field (39%) and 6-of-38 from three (16%), amassing a season-low 88 points against their intercity rivals.
All-Star Audition Resumes
Based on his career-high counting stats of 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds, Reaves is almost a lock to make his first All-Star Game this season. Redick, who has been campaigning for Reaves’ maiden All-Star nod, recently explained why it would be a crowning moment for a player who went undrafted five years back.
âIt would mean a whole lot to him,” Redick said of Reaves’ potential All-Star nod. “He and I have had discussions about how surreal it is for him to be playing at this level and in this position. I obviously absolutely think he should be an All-Star this year.â
âI think heâs the type of player who consistently wants to get better, consistently wants more, is willing to put in the work, and is willing to go out on the court and play hard enough to actually go for it. And he has proven that over and over again.”
Reaves has vindicated Redick’s faith in him by taking strides each year since entering the league in 2021-22. Last year, too, he averaged career-highs across the board in his first season under Redick. But he’s taken his game to a whole new level this season.
âOur first conversation when I took the job was, âYouâre going to be an All-Star.â By the way, Iâm not going to every player and saying that. Like, I actually said it because I believed it,” Redick said of his first chat with Reaves before the 2024-25 season.
The next five months are probably the most critical stretch of Austin Reaves’ career, as he auditions for a max contract in free agency. He can either ink a five-year $241M contract with the Lakers or a four-year, $178M deal with another team. He has hinted at taking a pay cut to stay with the Lakers, the team that took a chance on him in 2021.
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