The Los Angeles Lakers' current eight-game road trip is exactly the type of stretch on an NBA schedule that can make or break a team. First piece of good news? They won their first of eight matchups. Second piece of good news? They should expect Austin Reaves back in the near future.
Before the Lakers' competitive 115-107 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, JJ Redick delivered an injury update on his star guard to the media. There is now a clear expectation for when Reaves will be back, and the wait shouldn't take too much time from this point.
Dave McMenamin reported: "JJ Redick says Austin Reaves is 'progressing well' and will return to the lineup sometime during the Lakers’ 8-game road trip. Some good news for the Lakers, who have been without Reaves because of a left calf strain since Christmas."
The remaining games on the road trip span from Jan. 22 through Feb. 3. That offers about a two-week range for Reaves to finally suit up for the purple and gold again. His return will give the Lakers a much-needed boost after an inconsistent stretch of results without him.
Austin Reaves' return is close — but the Lakers can't rush him back
Reaves' importance to the team is undeniable. The Lakers guard slots in where needed, delivering unrivaled malleability to this current roster.
Reaves still leads Los Angeles in win shares per 48 minutes, averaging .187. That just edges out Luka Doncic, who has posted .186 during the 2025-26 season.
The thought of getting Reaves back and letting him go full tilt to cause nightmares for opposing teams is nice. However, it's also a strategy the Lakers would be better off avoiding in the immediate future. Redick and the staff should ease him back in gradually.
Calf strains have become the trendy new injury (in all the wrong ways) dominating the NBA of late. It's one that plenty of fans, media, coaching staffs, and everyone alike wish would just go away, given the potential for even worse ailments that they cause (see Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, etc.).
Reaves has been forced to navigate an initial injury and a reaggravation in the same calf. His health should be prioritized in any plan surrounding his return to the court.
Whether it be a minutes restriction, temporary demotion to the second unit, or whatever is deemed necessary, the Lakers need to exercise caution with Reaves. His long-term health should be of vast importance for all parties involved.