Austin Reeves Suffers Oblique Injury Amid Lakers Loss

Lakers’ guard Austin Reeves recently strained his oblique muscle, but compared to other injuries, it didn’t seem like a major setback at first. Unlike his superstar teammate Luka Doncic, Reeves didn’t go down dramatically; he simply reached for a rebound and twisted unexpectedly as Chet Holmgren tipped the ball away.

The Grade 2 torticollis injury Reeves sustained during the Lakers’ heavy defeat against the Thunder involved an awkward twist, leading to damage in the muscles running diagonally along his abdomen. This area houses the external and internal oblique muscles, which are key for trunk stability and rotation.

A Grade 2 strain indicates a partial tear in these muscles. For Reeves, the injury is on his lower left side, where the muscle fibers connect to the ribs, and it can cause significant pain during actions like breathing deeply, twisting, or bending for an object on his left side.

In the NBA, oblique injuries seem to be on the rise. This is somewhat ironic since these muscles play a crucial yet often overlooked role in basketball performance. They help facilitate rotational force and connect the lower and upper body, which is essential for players like Reeves, whose game relies on quick dribbles and controlled movements.

Dr. Reeves anticipates a recovery window of three to five weeks for this injury, with at least three weeks required for healing. If rib cartilage is involved, it could extend healing times to nearly five weeks. Unlike a sprained ankle, this kind of injury demands more rest and proper recovery.

Dr. Evan Jeffries highlighted that Reeves’ treatment will likely involve precise injections under ultrasound to aid healing, combined with strict activity limitations and pain management. He noted that patience will be key for Reeves during this time.

With his history of playing through pain—like last year’s playoffs where he dealt with a toe injury—Jeffries mentioned that if Reeves can handle the current discomfort, he may return sooner than Doncic. However, with free agency approaching and all that comes with it, the Arkansas native will have to weigh whether rushing back is worth the risk.

The good news, according to Jeffries, is that the long-term risks for Reeves are lower compared to Doncic, who is facing a hamstring injury. He cautions that any further tears could lead to a longer recovery, potentially extending to three months.

Other players, like former Lakers champion Danny Green, have had similar injuries but managed to push through. Green shared his own experience, mentioning how he battled through torticollis injuries during his college days, but ultimately faced a lengthy recovery after his season.

If Reeves opts to play through this injury, he’ll need to be careful as he eyes a potential max contract this summer—a decision that will likely weigh heavily on him.