When the Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick, one of the very first questions posed was how he would help LeBron James extend his career. James has delayed succumbing to Father Time in an unprecedented manner, but at 40 years of age, he needs the Lakers to alleviate some of the burden.
Thankfully, Redick and the Lakers appear to have found the answer to that James dilemma: Fourth-year guard Austin Reaves.
Reaves has been one of the most riveting success stories in the NBA during his four seasons with the Lakers. An undrafted free agent who spent five years at the collegiate level and made his professional debut at 23, Reaves has steadily improved and earned his place as a full-time starter.
In 2024-25, Reaves has taken a colossal step forward as both a scorer and a facilitator, proving that James can afford to pace himself through the season.
Reaves is currently averaging 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 three-point field goals made. He's posting career-best marks in each of those statistical categories, as well as the 0.9 offensive rebounds per game he's tallying.
Since missing five games at the beginning of December, Reaves has turned his game up a notch—and the Lakers are giving James a more defined place in the hierarchy.
Austin Reaves is proving LeBron James can alter approach game by game
Reaves, 26, returned to the lineup after a five-game absence on December 13. In the 14 games since, the Lakers have gone 8-6, with the former Wichita State and Oklahoma star taking center stage in whichever manner each game has required.
During that 14-game stretch, Reaves has accumulated averages of 19.6 points, 8.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 offensive boards, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per contest.
Reaves has recorded at least 10 assists on six different occasions during that time, with Los Angeles going 4-2 across those games. He has a matching six games with at least 20 points, with the Lakers again posting a record of 4-2 under those circumstances.
It's been a wonderful example of patience paying off, as Reaves has even increased his efficiency, shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc during those 14 games.
The details and context of his contributions are even more impressive than the numbers themselves. For instance, after the Lakers lost a heartbreaking 117-114 game to the Detroit Pistons, Reaves put the team on his back with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists as Los Angeles won 115-113 over the Golden State Warriors.
Reaves then tallied 11 assists to help Los Angeles bounce back from a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and posted 14 dimes to help snap a recent three-game losing streak.
That's a characteristic of a player who's not only stepping up on the court, but in the locker room, as well. When the team is down and in need of a win, Reaves is putting it all on the line and basing his strategy on what those around him require.
The Lakers still need depth in the playmaking department, but Reaves is proving that he has the tools to take the pressure off of James moving forward.