With both Luka Dončić and LeBron James – and their combined 18 All-NBA First Team nods – out injured, the Arkansas product has more than stepped in as the leader of the Lakers, carrying the shorthanded squad to impressive road wins in both Sacramento and Minnesota.
“He's established himself as a bad dude,” said JJ Redick. “He did that last year. I think league wide, he was viewed as a really good player … He had that stretch for three-and-a-half months of the regular season last year, whatever it is, where he's [averaging] 22, seven and six or whatever the numbers were. But he's done it. For me, I think the big thing is he's established himself as the leader. He's one of the leaders – or the leader – on the court. And that's bigtime. That's what we want. That's what we need from him, and he's done that.”
In California’s capital, Reaves exploded for a career-high 51 points, and in the birthplace of the Lakers, he drilled a buzzer-beating floater to win the game after posting 28 points with a career-high-tying 16 assists.
“That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Redick continued. “I’m not surprised. He's done that many times in his career. He has done that many times since I've been his coach. I feel very comfortable with him making decisions at late game.”
Now, about those numbers.
Reaves has scored 171 points and dished out 50 assists in five games, for averages of 34.2 points and 10.0 assists per game. Reaves ranks 4th in the NBA in points per game, and 2nd in assists per game.
He’s scored the 4th-most points by a Laker in the first five games of a season in franchise history, trailing only Jerry West (175, 1969), Kobe Bryant (174, 2005) and Elgin Baylor (172, 1966).
Reaves is the first player in franchise history to score 170+ points and notch 50 or more assists in the first five games, and just the third player in NBA history (Tiny Archibald in 1972, Russell Westbrook in 2016).
Reaves is leading the NBA in free throws made, with 52 already, or 10.4 per game.
The bucket at the buzzer in Minnesota was Reaves’ second buzzer beater (Dec. 15, 2021 at DAL), and third game-winning shot with under two seconds left (Dec. 25, 2024 at DAL).
All of that production alongside the leadership Redick spoke to has inspired teammates to step up into the void left by injuries not just to Luka and LeBron, but Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart, making up four of LA’s five primary offensive creators. Opposing coaches have sent the kitchen sink at Reaves, but he managed to keep his turnovers low in all three Lakers wins this season (six total).
He did turn the ball over five times in the season-opening loss to Golden State, and eight times on the second night of a back-to-back against Portland where the Blazers sent full-court pressure his way for the entire game.
But those turnovers – many of which are the cost of doing business for a player carrying that heavy a burden – were about the only blemish on the collective box score for a player that has no doubt thrust himself directly into the All-Star conversation.
And yet, the ever-humble Reaves was eager to share credit after the win in Minnesota.
“To have that opportunity to get us a big road win with a lot of people hurt is special,” he said. “We wouldn’t have been in that position if it wasn’t for everybody that chipped in tonight.”
He was then asked how he thinks about his role when Luka and LeBron are out.
“Even when they’re playing, I put a big responsibility on myself … it’s different responsibilities, obviously, because they do so much for our team. Physically, it’s a little more (taxing), but mentally, I’m always trying to figure out how I can help with them two, and without them two.
“It’s definitively different in the sense of how I have to play and conduct myself. I can’t get frustrated, because everyone is looking at me. In those situations, you have to be calm, be confident and lead your guys.
Reaves mentioned how Minnesota had made their final assault on LA’s lead in the last few minutes, trimming a 20-point lead all the way down and taking a 1-point lead with 11 seconds to play before his game-winner.
“It’s hard not to crumble in those situations, but you gotta keep the energy high, keep the spirit high,” he concluded. “But saying all that, everybody, not just (Luka and LeBron) … please come back!”
Next up for Reaves and the Lakers is the NBA Cup opening group stage game at Memphis on Friday night. And while LeBron and Gabe Vincent remain out, both Luka and Marcus Smart are listed as questionable, at least offering a chance that they’ll return.
If they’re not ready just yet, however, the kid from Arkansas has shown just how capable he is at carrying a heavy load. | |
