A celebratory mood followed Austin Reaves as he left Madison Square Garden into the New York City night after a significant road victory. It was just after midnight on February 2nd.
The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by 60 combined points from Reaves (27) and LeBron James (33), had just defeated the New York Knicks, who were on a five-game winning streak. L.A. achieved this without Anthony Davis, their key player, who had returned early to receive treatment for an abdominal strain.
“LeBron and I were talking in the locker room after the game,” Reaves told ESPN. “We felt that if we play like this and add AD to the mix, we could be a formidable team.”
As the Lakers` bus moved through Manhattan traffic, Reaves checked his phone and saw an Instagram post citing ESPN`s Shams Charania reporting that the Lakers had traded Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks for Slovenian star Luka Doncic.
“Initially, I thought it was fake,” Reaves admitted. “I thought his account was hacked.”
Immediately, Reaves` phone was flooded with messages. “The team group chat went crazy,” he said. “AD even texted the group, joking that he had been traded. I thought he was just kidding around, as he`s known for pranks.”
Then, a message from Lakers assistant coach Beau Levesque confirmed the news.
“Bro…” Levesque texted.
Reaves immediately called Levesque.
“This isn`t real, is it?” Reaves asked, still doubtful.
“Umm… I think it is,” Levesque replied, on the bus behind Reaves. “I`m sitting right next to Max.”
This significant trade shocked the NBA, changing the career paths of Davis and Doncic and potentially altering the futures of both the Mavericks and Lakers franchises.
It has already redefined Reaves` role. In just four years, he has risen from an undrafted college player to the Lakers` third key option, now playing alongside James and Doncic instead of James and Davis.
The Lakers have a 26-8 record when Reaves scores 20 or more points this season, and 18-18 when he scores less. Beyond his offensive contributions, his defense is often targeted by opponents. With James and Doncic`s playoff reputations and consistent performance, Reaves becomes the Lakers` pivotal player this postseason.
Adding another ball-dominant star like Doncic could have naturally reduced Reaves` role, making his skillset redundant.
Instead, the team has elevated Reaves to a similar level as Doncic and James in both promotion and practice. Billboards at L.A. Live promoting Crypto.com Arena playoff tickets feature James, Doncic, and Reaves in Lakers uniforms. On the court, since Doncic`s arrival on February 10th, James, Doncic, and Reaves are the only trio in the league averaging 75 touches per game, according to Second Spectrum data.
Rob Pelinka, Lakers VP and General Manager, explained to ESPN that during trade discussions for Luka Doncic, he considered the implications for Reaves. “[But] one of the people I was thinking of the most in my head was just AR, because I knew how close he had gotten to Max and AD and I knew bringing in another primary ball handler would have implications for him.”
Despite conventional roster wisdom suggesting balanced talent, Pelinka believed Reaves would be crucial in this new team setup.
His playoff performance will be a critical evaluation for his future role as Doncic`s primary partner when James retires.
Pelinka stated, “Basketball geniuses who are driven to win find ways to collaborate effectively. LeBron is a basketball genius who wants to win at the highest level, as is Luka Doncic. And AR is developing into one. He understands the game and can adapt to any team dynamic.”
Six weeks after the trade, L.A. faced Denver, a team that has been a regular season and playoff challenge for the Lakers. In this game, only Reaves was available from the usual starting lineup. Austin`s father, Brian Reaves, watched from home in Arkansas.
While Brian watched the game, his wife Amanda monitored tornado warnings on local news in another room. “She kept telling me to check the weather,” Brian told ESPN, “but I was glued to the game.”
With James, Hachimura, and Hayes out with injuries, and Doncic sidelined, Reaves went up against Nikola Jokic, the league`s best player.
And he outperformed him.
Reaves seized the opportunity, scoring 37 points, with 13 assists, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals, including a game-winning steal from Jokic in the final minute.
Despite playing the second night of a back-to-back and having his wrist iced after the previous game, Reaves delivered an exceptional performance. He led a makeshift lineup that included players who had barely played together.
“I`m focused on winning and believe I can impact the game whenever I`m on the court,” Reaves stated.
Though Denver narrowly won, Reaves` performance resonated with the Lakers, including coach JJ Redick. Redick had previously spoken with Reaves after a poor shooting game against Brooklyn, emphasizing Reaves` importance and leadership potential.
Redick has had several key conversations with Reaves throughout the season, encouraging him to take more ownership and leadership on the court.
Late last month, after a losing streak, Redick met with Reaves, Doncic, and James, urging them to play with more intensity and creativity, especially in half-court situations. He emphasized maximizing their combined talents.
“The meeting was about enhancing our chemistry,” Reaves explained. Since then, in games where Doncic, James, and Reaves play together, the Lakers are averaging 121.7 points per 100 possessions and have a 4-1 record.
Reaves has exceeded expectations for an undrafted player. He recently scored 30 points for the fourth time in five games and set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a two-game span.
A Western Conference executive remarked, “He`s the best undrafted player since Ben Wallace, a Hall of Famer.”
Even with Doncic, Reaves maintains a significant role. His usage rate has increased since Doncic`s arrival, allowing him to exploit more favorable matchups as opponents focus on Doncic.
Consequently, Reaves has become more aggressive offensively, averaging a career-high in isolation plays.
Reaves has proven himself as a valuable NBA player. His next challenge is to solidify his role as a core member of a championship-caliber team and justify his worth. His current contract is considered a great value. He`s eligible for a significant extension this summer, and the Lakers are keen to retain him.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss told ESPN, “His playing style, his dedication, it`s inspiring. We are lucky to have him.”
Reaves is accustomed to proving himself and overcoming stereotypes.
“Being a white player in the NBA, there`s a stereotype,” Reaves mentioned.
Coach Redick, who played for 15 years, understands this, noting that players in Reaves` position are constantly tested.
Reaves first proved himself to James during his rookie training camp, despite initially being on a two-way contract.
James recognized Reaves` potential early on, praising his ball-handling, creativity, competitiveness, and energy.
Pelinka noted that James agreed Reaves deserved a roster spot after seeing him at a pre-training camp minicamp.
Doncic`s arrival presented another opportunity for Reaves to impress. And he quickly did.
Doncic acknowledged Reaves` high level of play after witnessing his career-high 45-point game, stating, “The expectation is high. He has the potential to be an amazing player. He already is.”
The Lakers` playoff seeding in the competitive Western Conference is uncertain. With games remaining, their position could range from third to eighth. This situation echoes a low point earlier in the season when a losing streak threatened their season.
During that period, Reaves` return from injury helped turn things around. He brought a positive change during a difficult phase.
Reaves` lighthearted gesture of wearing a headband during a tough stretch lifted team morale and marked a turning point. Since then, the Lakers` performance has significantly improved.
The headband has become a symbol of Reaves` impact and the team`s resurgence. He wore it during key moments and victories, including a game-winner against Golden State and his career-high performance.
Coach Redick believes James and Doncic trust Reaves implicitly.
After a tough loss in Chicago, James also adopted the headband, mirroring Reaves` positive influence.
James commented on wearing a headband as a way to “change the energy,” acknowledging its positive effect.
For the Lakers to succeed in the playoffs, Reaves needs to maintain his high level of play.
Jarred Vanderbilt noted Reaves` growth into a leadership role, recognizing his increasing responsibility and consistent performance.
