In just two and a half seasons in the league, Austin Reaves has become a core contributor for the Lakers and one of the most valuable role players in the entire NBA. His ascension in Los Angeles was unlikely, to say the least, but it wasn’t until a moment in the 2023 playoffs that he fully earned LeBron’s trust and solidified his role on the frontlines of the rotation. Speaking on”‘The Old Man & The Three,” Reaves described the moment in detail.
“Fully was Game 1 of the Memphis series last year,” said Reaves. “There was trust there. But I remember in the fourth quarter when I had it going, there was a shot and D’Lo outletted it to Bron… I get to half-court and I hear him yelling my name. He was like ‘come get the ball.’ I was like ‘oh sh*t I have to make something good happen.’ Everything went in slow motion at that time…. but it ended up working, thank God, and after the game I was trying to fathom what actually just happened.”
Austin Reaves on the moment he felt he fully gained LeBron’s trust pic.twitter.com/biGgJt5UQE
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) December 20, 2023
The Lakers had picked up a lot of steam entering the playoffs, going 16-7 in the final slate of games to make the play-in, where they eventually advanced to play the Grizzlies in round one. Without Reaves, that run may not have been possible and his breakout performance in the series was enough to make him a permanent staple of the team.
The Lakers Dominated In First Two Rounds
The Lakers may look relatively unimposing right now, but they looked even worse last season before their miraculous turnaround. After starting 2-10 on the season, Rob Pelinka risked everything at the deadline by going all-in on supporting talent. Ultimately, the Lakers would lose in the West Finals in a sweep to the Denver Nuggets, but they still deserve some credit for getting as far as they did.
Against the Grizzlies in round one, the Lakers put together an absolute masterpiece of a series. They crushed the 2nd seeded Grizz from start to finish, winning game six by 40 points and humbling the entire team in the process. They followed it up with a win over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in round two, who were looking to defend their title after winning it all in 2022. All-in-all, while the season did end in failure, it was an impressive run by the Lakers and not one that the fans will be forgetting in the near or distant future.
Austin Reaves Is The X-Factor In Los Angeles
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the leaders in Los Angeles, and that isn’t news to anyone who has been paying attention. At this stage of their careers, James and Davis cannot carry a team on their own anymore, and role-players like D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Cam Reddish are more important than ever to their success.
As the borderline third option for the Lakers, and the first guy off the bench, Austin Reaves’ role cannot be overlooked. At his best, Reaves’ playmaking and shot creation opens up the floor for everybody and it certainly makes life easier for LeBron, who is tasked with trying to stay healthy in his 21st season.
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