The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a colossal step forward during the 2024-25 regular season. Most of the credit will go to big names such as Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and JJ Redick, as the stars of past and present, as well as the innovative head coach, have certainly taken center stage.
Los Angeles wouldn't be near the top of the Western Conference standings without Austin Reaves, however, which is exactly why his recent stretch of games is so concerning.
The obvious context is that Reaves recently suffered a calf injury that kept him out for two games. He's appeared in the past three outings for the Lakers, but his quality of play has resulted in a fair question of whether he returned too quickly.
Reaves shot 2-of-13 during his first game back, 5-of-12 during the second, and 3-of-14 during a three-point loss to the lowly Brooklyn Nets.
It was inevitable that Reaves would have trouble finding his form after suffering an injury that can be as nagging as a calf ailment. It's also worth noting that he still managed to post 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds against the Nets, routinely getting to the free-throw line to make an impact.
If Reaves can't return to the level he'd been performing at prior to the injury, however, the Lakers are going to have a tough time putting the finishing touches on an otherwise great season.
Austin Reaves is shooting 25.6% since returning from calf injury
Reaves has been instrumental to the Lakers' success in 2024-25. Los Angeles is outscoring opponents by 3.5 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court this season, and is being outscored by 1.3 when he isn't.
Beyond those metrics is a direct line to be drawn between Reaves playing an aggressive style and the Lakers winning games.
Los Angeles is an unfathomable 19-3 when Reaves scores at least 20 points during the 2024-25 regular season. The Lakers are also 25-11 when he attempts the magic number of at least 13 shots, as well as 5-1 when he puts up 18.
Perhaps those numbers can appear arbitrary, but the bottom line is that the purple and gold win games when Reaves is aggressive as a scorer.
With LeBron James sidelined by a groin injury, the Lakers need Reaves to take over now more than ever. Compounded by the fact that starting forward Rui Hachimura is also out, the time for patience is unfortunately nonexistent.
There's certainly a learning curve for him to figure out how to play alongside Doncic and without James, but the pressure exists nonetheless.
Thankfully, the injury is a mere interruption of Reaves making the leap to a star-caliber level of production. Between Christmas Day and Feb. 27—the day before Reaves was injured—he posted averages of 21.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per contest across 28 games.
If Reaves can get back to that level, then the Lakers might find a way to overcome playing without Hachimura and James. Otherwise, home-court advantage may not be theirs much longer.
