Is Lakers' Austin Reaves emerging as a legitimate NBA All-Star?

Is Reaves an All-Star?

Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) celebrates with guard Max Christie (12) after making the game-winning basket to defeat the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) celebrates with guard Max Christie (12) after making the game-winning basket to defeat the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves has played a crucial role in helping the Los Angeles Lakers win five of their past six games. Reaves' overall statistics in 2024-25 have been impressive. However, is he emerging as a legitimate All-Star candidate?

The Lakers are climbing the standings and Reaves is impacting the team in a positive manner. The 26-year-old guard is averaging 17.7 points per game on 44.4 percent field goal and 36.3 percent three-point shooting. Reaves is also recording per game averages of 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per outing.

His true shooting percentage sits at a mark of 58 percent. In all reality, Reaves' overall statistics are good, but not great. They are not necessarily at an All-Star level. What Reaves has accomplished in recent games should not be ignored, however.

Austin Reaves playing like an All-Star in recent action

As aforementioned, the Lakers have earned wins in five of their last six games. The team is taking a step forward. Anthony Davis and LeBron James are the Lakers best players, but Reaves' impact has been immense.

The Lakers guard is averaging 20.7 points, 7.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game during LA's impressive six-game stretch. Reaves is also shooting 46.6 percent from the field across those games. His true shooting percentage is 60.5 percent during the span as well.

Overall, Reaves has recorded a 9.5 plus-minus during the six games. He is helping the Lakers win games. Reaves probably will not be an All-Star this year, but his performance has been impressive nonetheless. Will there be an All-Star game in his future, though?

Will Reaves make an All-Star team in his NBA career?

Reaves could end up earning an All-Star selection at some point down the road. He has displayed signs of becoming an All-Star, but the question is whether or not he can put it all together for a full season.

Sure, perhaps he could find himself on an All-Star team this year. The chances of that coming to fruition appear slim given the competition in the Western Conference, but anything is possible. However, the chances are not quite as slim when discussing Reaves' future as a possible All-Star.

In the end, Reaves likely is not focused on the individual accomplishment. Rather, he wants to do everything he can to help the Lakers make a postseason run in 2024-25. Los Angeles is trending in a promising direction and they are beginning to make serious noise in the Western Conference.

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