The Los Angeles Lakers need a second star who can step up in the playoffs in aid of franchise player Luka Doncic. Doncic has proven on multiple occasions that he can lead a team on a deep postseason run, but the consistent context of his success is that he's played alongside another high-level scorer and playmaker.
The Lakers hope that Austin Reaves can complete his ascension to taking on that monumental role, but until he does, LeBron James still has a significant part to play in Los Angeles' success.
Reaves is in the midst of an extraordinary fifth season that was unfortunately interrupted by a calf strain. Though he ultimately missed 26 games, his performances when healthy have been nothing short of mesmerizing, particularly on the offensive end of the floor.
Reaves is currently averaging 25.4 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per game on .508/.363/.867 shooting.
While this may be an entirely new level for Reaves to be performing at, it's arguably been years in the making. He's on pace to increase his averages in points, assists, and rebounds per game for a fourth consecutive season, and averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per contest in 2024-25.
Unfortunately, if there's one knock against Reaves' offensive game that he hasn't yet been able to disprove, it's that he struggles to step up in the playoffs. Thus, James' unavoidable value.
Austin Reaves' postseason woes mean Lakers still need LeBron James
Reaves hasn't been bad in the playoffs, but he's failed to step up in the way that made him a fan favorite during the Lakers' run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals. He's fallen below the star standard as Los Angeles has lost 12 of its past 14 playoff games, bowing out in the first round in both 2024 and 2025.
Reaves was individually excellent on offense during the 2023 Western Conference Finals, but has since been deceptively productive.
Reaves has averaged 16.5 points per game over his past 10 playoff outings, which is respectable enough. Unfortunately, he's shot at a surprisingly low clip of .441/.301/.885. Shooting numbers tend to decline during the playoffs, but Reaves has struggled despite having the luxury of being a third option behind either Doncic and James or James and Anthony Davis.
In 2026, the Lakers need Reaves to show that he's worth the hefty investment they're about to make in him by proving he can be a true second star.
Is Austin Reaves a true co-star? Lakers must know before free agency
Doncic's runs to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and 2024 NBA Finals were made alongside shot creators Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving. That doesn't necessarily mean he can't win in another way, but the formula is tried and true—and the Lakers seem to have the personnel to recreate it.
If Reaves can't step up and perform at that level, however, then it's James who will ultimately have to bail the Lakers out.
In addition to being a four-time NBA champion, James is still a tremendous postseason player. Over the past two years, he's compiled playoff averages of 26.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 2.0 three-point field goals made on .529/.370/.762 shooting.
Statistics certainly don't tell the whole story, but one would have to imagine that such production would simplify the game for a top-tier postseason performer in Doncic.
Reaves doesn't necessarily need to match those numbers, but he must prove capable of making difficult plays in key spots in the postseason. Doing so would not only help Doncic, but give Los Angeles enough shot creation versatility to justify asking James to take something of a step back.
The Lakers will need to move on from James in some way as they shift to a sustainable future, but in 2026, Reaves still needs to prove he can be a second star in the playoffs.