Lakers Feeling the Absence of Austin Reeves

It’s pretty clear that the Lakers have felt the impact of Austin Reeves’ absence. But, what’s becoming more apparent lately is just *how* much they’ve missed him.

Thinking back to almost a year ago, when the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic while already having LeBron James on the team—it’s hard to believe that we’d even consider Reaves to be that significant. But stats have been suggesting that he could be as vital as Doncic. That’s a pretty striking thought.

Take a look at this: among Lakers who logged at least 300 minutes, Reaves holds the best individual plus/minus at -2.5 and ranks second for net rating with 3.3 points per 100 possessions, right behind Marcus Smart. It seems that the half-court offense really thrived when he was on the floor. This includes a team that has Doncic, who’s known for his offensive prowess.

But the straightforward numbers tell the story even more clearly. Before his injury, Reaves was averaging 27.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.6 rebounds—basically playing at an All-NBA level. It’s a shame that his calf injury has forced him to play just 37 minutes in two games since mid-December.

After kicking off the season at 17-7, the Lakers have slipped to 10-10 without him in the lineup, which includes two games where he played but wasn’t quite himself.

“It’s definitely the drive and movement we’ve been lacking,” coach JJ Redick noted about Reaves’ absence. “His pace on the court is just unmatched. And we really miss that. His defense had been solid, too—especially in the latter part of last year. He’s been with us for two years now, and we really miss his consistency. When he’s on the floor, he performs at a high level for nearly 40 minutes. His understanding of our plays and his execution are top-notch.”

Redick also highlighted how important Reaves is as a leader on the team. “He’s been working hard even while out. He’s the glue that holds us together on the court, and we can’t wait for him to come back.”

In a recent road win against the Dallas Mavericks, Redick mentioned that Reaves could potentially return during this trip—possibly as soon as Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers.

The Lakers have managed to keep their spirits high lately, winning three out of their last four games, and there’s a growing excitement around his eventual return.

“We need his dynamic play,” Rui Hachimura said. “We got off to a great start in those first 20 games, and he was a big part of that. We’re really looking forward to having him back.”