Austin Reaves is a star. Everyone in the NBA knows that's the case. His ability to create offense, get to the free-throw line, and run an offense are all high-level skills. Reaves is going to sign a monster contract this offseason (hopefully, for Lakers fans, to stay in LA) and alongside Luka Doncic, is expected to be a franchise pillar for years to come.
So, as the 2025-26 season progresses, why is Reaves becoming a smaller part of the Lakers' offensive plans?
In five of his past 11 games, Reaves has shot 10 or fewer times. He averaged just 12.4 field goal attempts per game in February, his lowest mark of the season. Meanwhile, LeBron James shot at least 15 times in all but two of his past 12 games. That's not inherently worrisome — but does that type of shot distribution allow the Lakers to reach their ceiling?
It's important to note that Reaves returned from an injury that kept him sidelined for all of January, so it makes sense he'd take some time to get his sea legs back. But he's been back for over a month now, and his offensive role seems to be shrinking instead of growing.
Last night, Reaves took just 9 shots against the Sacramento Kings. It didn't matter, as the Kings are a startlingly bad team and the Lakers won comfortably. But this team needs to maximize all of its star players and Reaves is certainly not being maximized right now. I'm not sure that's anyone's "fault," but some course correction is required from JJ Redick nonetheless.
Lakers pecking order has become less clear
A few months ago, I gave the Lakers credit for seemingly having a clear hierarchy among the team's three stars. Luka has been the obvious bell cow all along, and Austin Reaves was the team's No. 2 option, with the 41 year-old LeBron James looking comfortable as a No. 3 option who can still take over a game on occasion.
Maybe I am being sucked into a moral panic, and this is no cause for concern. When the playoffs come around, Reaves could well pump that volume back up and look like the All-NBA superstar he was for the first few weeks of this season. He has to, frankly, if this team wants any realistic chance at winning a playoff series or two. A good but passive Austin Reaves is leaving too much food on the table for this roster.
There's no reason to worry about Reaves' longterm prospects with this franchise. He's still a star. But one of the biggest questions for the Lakers this season was how the Big 3 would split touches and opportunities, and as the season progresses, the answer to that question is somehow getting less clear.