Austin Reaves just added his name to an elite list in Los Angeles Lakers history.
On Wednesday night, the Lakers escaped with a 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game that did not feature LeBron James or Luka Doncic. Reaves took full command, drilling a floater over Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo at the buzzer to seal the victory, Fadeaway World reports. The shot marked more than just a highlight, it solidified his place among Lakers legends.
With 28 points and a career-high-tying 16 assists, Reaves became the only Laker besides Magic Johnson and Jerry West to record at least 170 points and 50 assists through any five-game span, per Essentially Sports. He is also the first player in franchise history to open a season averaging over 30 points and 10 assists through five outings.
Robert Horry’s Bold Take on Reaves’ Potential
During the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast, seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry took notice of the buzzer-beater and broke down what made the play so special.
“That’s his go-to move,” Horry said. “If you really look at his shot, he’s right-handed, right? He shot that off his right leg. So his floater is just that potent that he can shoot it off either leg, and that takes some talent.”
Horry, who built his reputation on clutch moments, did not stop there. He praised Reaves’ IQ and creativity, saying, “He might be the next logo.” The comment immediately sparked debate among Lakers fans online, as “The Logo” is the nickname for Hall of Famer Jerry West.
Given Reaves’ recent stretch, averaging 34.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 10 assists on 52.5 percent shooting overall, it is hard to argue he has not earned some lofty comparisons.
Reaves Reacts to Making Lakers History
Following the game, ESPN’s Jorge Sedano informed Reaves of the milestone. “Right now you’re averaging 35 points and 10 assists,” Sedano said. “Only Magic Johnson and Jerry West have done that with this organization.”
Reaves smiled but downplayed the moment. “I’m still not gonna talk about myself,” he said. “I love to play the game of basketball, but I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without our coaching staff and my teammates. It’s fun.”
When Sedano joked that LeBron and Luka would probably text him after the win, Reaves laughed. “They’ll probably tell me I suck, because I missed like 14 shots,” he said. “Get back, my brothers. Hey LeBron, everybody, get back.”
He quickly turned the spotlight toward teammate Jake LaRavia, who scored 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting. “We can talk about how big Jake was tonight,” Reaves added. “Guys stepping up after people going down, it’s big.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed that sentiment after the game. “That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Redick said. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career.”
For a player once undrafted and overlooked, Austin Reaves continues to rise. Now, he is in the same statistical air as Magic Johnson and Jerry West, and according to Robert Horry, his story might only be getting started.
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