Regardless of who fans believe is the superior individual player, it's Austin Reaves and not LeBron James who should be safe in their role as the No. 2 star for the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic is the indisputable No. 1 player, thus meaning the question at hand is no longer about talent or ability.
Instead, it's a combination of long-term outlook and the essential topic of fit that clearly establishes Reaves as the obvious choice for the clear-cut No. 2 role.
Doncic and Reaves took center stage on Tuesday, Mar. 10 in a statement game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic posted 31 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and a block, while Reaves tallied 31 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds as the Lakers prevailed 120-106.
James unfortunately missed the game, but his absence opened the door for Doncic and Reaves to continue what's been a remarkable season as a leading duo.
The narrative that the Lakers are better without James is flawed on its best day, but it's still relevant how dominant Doncic and Reaves have been in the leading roles. With this in mind, the choice being presented to head coach JJ Redick seems to have been made already.
James should factor into the Lakers' rotation in a prominent manner, but Doncic and Reaves operating as the primary driving forces behind the team's success offers a clear path to glory.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves should be Lakers' top two stars
Doncic and Reaves have been a remarkable pairing in 2025-26, dominating the offensive end of the floor as scorers and playmakers. James has been no slouch in that same regard, averaging 21.4 points and 7.0 assists on .504/.313/.745 shooting.
The harsh reality that must be accepted, however, is that the Doncic and Reaves duo has bordered on dominant—while Doncic and James have yet to truly click.
The two-man lineup of Doncic and Reaves currently ranks in the 82nd percentile in net rating at +7.2 after 1,592 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. By comparison, Doncic and James place in the 44th percentile in net rating at -1.8 through 1,773 possessions played as a two-man lineup
There's more to this discussion than statistics, of course, but those metrics reflect what the eye has seen: Doncic and Reaves are already an arguably elite duo.
What takes this from fascinating to obvious is the unfortunate reality of Father Time. Reaves will turn 28 in May and is expected to re-sign with the Lakers on a lucrative long-term deal, whereas James will turn 42 in December and it's currently unknown if the two sides will pursue a new contract.
With this in mind, there are both present-day and future elements that factor into Reaves being the optimal choice for the role of No. 2 star. Ignoring them would be tantamount to squandering Doncic's magic.