Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Austin Reaves’ offensive creativity after the 27-year-old guard scored efficiently in their 126-116 preseason win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.
“He’s so crafty — his ability to draw fouls is impressive,” Redick said. “You put your hand there and he’s able to rise up. I played with Jamal Crawford, who was so good at that. He’s picking up little tricks here and there to get to the free-throw line. He’s always been good at that, but you can see that continue to develop.”
Reaves finished with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting in just 23 minutes, adding three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block as the Lakers earned their first preseason victory, 126-116. Both teams rested stars, with LeBron James (sciatica) and Luka Dončić (rest) sitting out for Los Angeles and Stephen Curry (rest) and Jimmy Butler (rest) unavailable for Golden State.
Crawford, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, was one of Redick’s teammates with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Redick Notes Growth From Practice to Game
Without their All-NBA leaders, the Lakers relied on Reaves to take command of the offense. Redick said he has noticed Reaves’ scoring instincts and control translate from training camp to games.
“He’s shown flashes so far in the games, but a lot more in practice,” Redick said. “Yesterday, for example, during the scrimmage, he did some things off the bounce — and maybe that was just our poor defense — but the purple team literally couldn’t contain him. He just kind of got wherever he wanted.”
Redick said the Lakers had recently reduced Reaves’ workload in practice to keep him fresh, but that his burst and rhythm have remained sharp.
Lakers Dodge Injury Scare
The Lakers breathed a collective sigh of relief after Reaves allayed fears of a serious injury, calming speculation that he might have suffered a leg injury following a third-quarter collision with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski.
“I’m good. I’m good,” Reaves told reporters after the game.
Redick also reassured fans that Reaves is “fine.”
“[Reaves] got kneed in the posterior anterior calf — or somewhere around there,” Redick said. “I think he just took a knee to his lower leg muscle. I think he’s fine.”
Betting on Himself
Reaves enters a pivotal season as one of the Lakers’ key pieces behind Dončić and James. After going undrafted in 2021, he worked his way into the starting lineup and became one of the Lakers’ most dependable players.
He declined a four-year, $89.2 million offer from the Lakers earlier this offseason and is eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Reaves “wants to be paid in the Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year,” referencing the Miami Heat guard’s four-year, $130 million contract signed in 2022.
Last season, Reaves averaged 20.2 points on 46% shooting during the regular season and scored a career-high 45 points in a February win over Indiana when both stars were out. Performances like Sunday’s reinforce the Lakers’ belief that he can handle a bigger role when called upon.
With James managing injuries and Dončić entering his prime, Reaves’ continued growth could determine both his market value and the Lakers’ long-term balance between present contention and future planning.
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