Austin Reaves is owning the weight of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ early exit, stepping up and taking full responsibility after a disappointing series performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 26-year-old guard, who was expected to be one of Los Angeles’ key difference-makers in their first-round matchup, didn’t shy away from accountability.
“I didn’t have the series that I wanted to have. You can point the finger at me. I wasn’t good enough to help us be successful. I wish I coulda done more. I didn’t. I struggled. You live and you learn, and I guarantee that I’ll get back to work this offseason and be better.”
It’s a rare and admirable admission in a league where finger-pointing can sometimes cloud postmortems. But in this case, the self-critique is grounded in truth. Reaves entered the series with high expectations.
Just a couple of years into a four-year, $53.8 million deal, he had already proven himself a capable playoff performer in 2023, especially during the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals. This time, however, he fell flat.
Across five games, Reaves averaged 16.2 points and 3.6 assists but shot just 41.1% from the field and an icy 31.9% from three-point range.
In comparison, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, seen as Minnesota’s third option, averaged 17.4 points on 57.4% shooting while also locking down defensively. Reaves, often tasked with guarding bigger wings, struggled on both ends.
The low point came in the decisive 103-96 loss in Game 5. While Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura each scored over 20 points and battled to keep the Lakers’ season alive, Reaves had just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting and committed a team-high six turnovers.
He went 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, missing several wide-open looks that could have swung momentum.
With no bench player scoring more than four points, Reaves’ struggles carried added weight. Head coach JJ Redick had shortened the rotation to seven players by Game 5, a move that only amplified the impact of every starter’s performance.
In that context, Reaves’ inability to produce consistently on offense and defend at a high level left a glaring hole.
Reaves’ willingness to take the blame offers a silver lining. It speaks to his maturity, leadership, and accountability, traits the Lakers value deeply. But there’s no doubt this offseason will be pivotal for his development. He’ll need to work on improving defensively against larger matchups and continue refining his shot under pressure.
The Lakers, meanwhile, enter another offseason of uncertainty. LeBron James’ future looms large, and the roster clearly lacks depth and frontcourt size. But with Doncic locked in, Reaves under contract, and a strong core in place, the foundation remains solid, provided lessons from this postseason are learned.
