Bill Simmons ‘Can’t Believe How Good’ Lakers Star Has Become This Season

The development of this Los Angeles Lakers star over the season has left Bill Simmons scratching his head.

3 Min Read

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have a genuine Big Three on their roster. Everyone knows the danger their star duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic poses as two of the greatest offensive minds in the history of the game. However, there’s a third star that’s been keeping up with them, if not occasionally outperforming them – Austin Reaves.

Reaves is having a breakout season with the Lakers this year, finally evolving into becoming a 20-point scorer. As a result, NBA Podfather Bill Simmons gushed with praise for Reaves’ development this season on his podcast with Ryen Russilo.

“I can’t believe how good he is offensively. To a point where he’s on a team with LeBron and Luka, and his coach thinks it’s a good idea to run stuff through Austin Reaves. But even LeBron and Luka are like, ‘We should run stuff through Austin Reaves.’ That’s the level he’s at. I think he’s a potential 25-point-a-game scorer at some point in his career.”

“There’s pieces of different guys from over the years, and I’ll do a comparing white guy to a white guy thing. There’s a lot of Jeff Hornacek, there’s some Paul Westphal. But with his ability to get to the basket, create shots for other guys, and hit threes in huge moments, I think other teams are really afraid of him offensively. I’ve been really impressed, I wasn’t expecting it.”

Reaves is averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, with career highs across the board this season. JJ Redick immediately prioritized Reaves within his offensive system, using his talents to reduce the on-ball load on LeBron to facilitate better defensive output from the 40-year-old forward.

The acquisition of Luka Doncic was widely expected to hurt Reaves’ overall production due to Doncic presumably usurping Reaves in the team’s pecking order. Even though the Lakers have let Luka play with a greater usage rate than he had on the Dallas Mavericks this season, Reaves has stayed prolific, averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 39.8% from three in 23 games alongside Doncic.

Luka has always elevated guards who play alongside him, so the fact that Reaves is also benefitting isn’t surprising. 

This leap might have been in him for a while, but former Lakers coach Darvin Ham never gave Reaves the same opportunity. He spent a portion of last season as the team’s sixth man and had a smaller usage rate than D’Angelo Russell.

Redick prioritized Reaves over Russell, and it became instantly apparent which one of the guards was better suited to be the primary on-ball option. Reaves proved his worth in the two months without Russell or Doncic but will now potentially be a long-term Laker, thriving alongside Doncic while under an affordable

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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