The Los Angeles Lakers dropped a tough one in primetime at Madison Square Garden last night, falling to the New York Knicks in a game that slipped away in the second half. And while there’s no shortage of reasons to explain the loss, one name continues to loom large in his absence: Austin Reaves.
Reaves hasn’t suited up since Christmas Day, when he reaggravated a left calf strain during a matchup against the Houston Rockets. That was over a month ago, and while the Lakers have managed to stay afloat - going 10-9 without him - the difference with and without their high-scoring guard is starting to feel more pronounced.
LeBron James didn’t dance around it postgame.
“We've had some really good moments. We have some not-so-good moments.
We want to continue to try to build off of that,” James said. “It's been tough all season as far as dealing with injuries.
Guys in and guys out. Unfortunately, our All-Star 2-guard has been out for a minute, and that's a big piece of our team.
So, it's kind of hard to see what we can really, truly be.”
It’s a fair point. The Lakers have struggled to find consistent rhythm, and Reaves - who was averaging a career-best 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 23 games before the injury - was becoming a major engine in their offense. His ability to create off the dribble, space the floor, and playmake alongside LeBron and Luka Doncic gave the Lakers a dynamic backcourt that could attack in multiple ways.
Doncic, who’s quickly built chemistry with Reaves since joining the Lakers last season, knows just how much they’re missing.
“It’s definitely hard with a calf,” Doncic said. “I’ve been through that.
It’s not an easy injury. So, we just want him to be healthy.
If he’s not ready to come back, don’t come back. But obviously, we’d love to have him out there.
We can’t wait for his return.”
The numbers tell the story. The Lakers are 15-8 when Reaves plays this season.
Without him? 14-11.
And that’s not just a win-loss stat - it’s also about how the team looks on the floor. The offense loses some of its fluidity without Reaves initiating sets or taking pressure off Doncic and James.
His absence forces others into roles they’re not always suited for, and it shows in the team’s uneven performances.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Reaves this season. He missed three games in early November due to a groin issue, then sat out another three in December with what was initially labeled a mild calf strain.
He returned briefly - logging just 37 minutes across two games - before reaggravating the injury on Christmas. Since then, he’s missed 19 straight contests, and his return remains uncertain.
Head coach JJ Redick gave a cautious update, saying Reaves is “day-to-day, game-to-game,” but didn’t commit to him being available for Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
This extended absence comes during what was shaping up to be a breakout campaign for Reaves in his fifth NBA season. At 27, he’s in the third year of a four-year, $53.8 million contract extension. But that deal includes a $14.9 million player option for next season - meaning Reaves could test free agency this summer if he chooses.
For now, though, the focus is on getting him healthy. The Lakers are still in the playoff mix, but with the Western Conference as competitive as ever, they’ll need all hands on deck - especially one as impactful as Reaves - if they want to make a real run.