The change the Lakers need to see from Austin Reaves to take next step

The Los Angeles Lakers have set the pace for one of the best seasons of the post-Kobe Bryant era. Los Angeles is currently 10-6 through 16 games, which equates to a win percentage of .625—thus translating to 51.25 wins across an 82-game schedule.

For as exciting as it is to imagine the Lakers' winningest regular season since 2019-20, there are cracks in the armor that Austin Reaves must help fix.

Reaves has gotten off to a strong start to the 2024-25 regular season. Through 16 appearances, he's averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.8 three-point field goals made on .444/.367/.768 shooting.

If this pace holds, Reaves would set new career-best marks in points, steals, and three-point field goals made per game.

For as intriguing as his production has been, however, the Lakers simply need more—fair or foul. It's tough to ask that of a player who has effectively operated as the bridge between Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and a superstar-centric angle to a team-first approach.

If the Lakers are going to take the next step toward contending, however, then Reaves will need to solidify his status as the team's third star.

Lakers need Austin Reaves to assert himself on both ends of the floor

Reaves has done an excellent job of picking his spots early in 2024-25. When it isn't time for Davis and James to take over, the 26-year-old shooting guard has instinctively stepped in to provide big shots at crucial moments in games.

The area in which Reaves has thus far struggled to step up, however, is taking over for extended stretches as a scorer and defender.

Davis and James are as consistent as it gets from a scoring perspective, but even they're prone to cold spells. The Lakers have done a surprisingly stellar job of stepping up as a team in those moments, but the committee approach still needs a general sense of a hierarchy.

It's certainly helped that rookie Dalton Knecht has caught fire in recent weeks, but Reaves must prove that he can be the consistent third scoring option—as well as a player who can put the team on his back.

That assertiveness must translate to both ends of the floor. In addition to needing Reaves to be less trepidatious as a scorer, the Lakers are in desperate need of a significant improvement on defense—namely along the perimeter.

No player will shoulder more of that burden than Reaves—starting with improving his transition defense to help Los Angeles improve upon its ranking of No. 29 in fast-break points allowed.

This isn't to say that Reaves is the only player who must step up in these areas, but his quality demands a more assertive mentality. He can impact the game in a versatile manner, which is the foundational reason that picking his spots isn't always the optimal approach.

If the Lakers are going to realize their potential, then Reaves will need to play with more intensity on both ends of the court—thus taking his clear improvement to an entirely different level.