When the Los Angeles Lakers hit the court this Friday against the LA Clippers, fans have reason to celebrate. Austin Reaves, who recently returned from a calf injury, is no longer under a minutes restriction, according to head coach JJ Redick. This is a significant boost for the Lakers, not just because of Reaves' skills on the court, but also his growing leadership role.
Coach Redick has been pushing Reaves to step up as a leader since last season. After Thursday’s practice, Reaves opened up about this ongoing journey and why it's been such an intriguing challenge.
“JJ challenged me before last year and again this year. We had some meetings over the summer, and he encouraged me to improve in that area,” Reaves shared. “It's an opportunity to connect with everyone on the team, not just understanding their game but knowing them as people.”
Reaves praised the team dynamic, saying, “We’ve got a great group. Everyone enjoys each other’s company.
We’ve got some interesting characters, like Luka [Doncic],” he joked. “Building these relationships off the court means they trust me on it, and we trust each other as a team.”
Reaves made his return to the lineup during the Lakers’ win against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2. After a modest performance by his standards, he roared back with a 35-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers, reminding everyone why he was in All-Star discussions earlier this season.
Since coming back, he’s been easing in off the bench, but with the minutes restriction lifted post-All-Star break, Reaves is expected to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup against the Clippers.
This season, Reaves has played 28 games, logging just over 33 minutes per game. He’s averaging a career-high 25.4 points, along with 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. His shooting splits are impressive: 50.8% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc, and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
In his last outing before the break, Reaves contributed 18 points, four rebounds, and six assists in 28 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks. With his return to full capacity, the Lakers are looking to build momentum as they push deeper into the season.