Austin Reaves may not look like a DC Comics superhero, but his on-court performances suggest he’s got the ability to save the day when called into action.
Reaves’s ability to step into different roles makes him the perfect running mate for NBA superstar Luka Doncic. The fifth-year Los Angeles Lakers guard is comfortable playing a supporting role. He is comfortable in having the ball in his hands, and he’s comfortable in not having the ball in his hands all the time.
He’s also one of the best clutch players in the league, making it imperative for the Lakers to re-sign him to a long-term contract.
Reaves has had a remarkable basketball odyssey. He was an undrafted free agent out of the University. He played his way onto the Lakers’ roster on a two-way contract before earning a guaranteed contract. And he’s gotten better and better each year.
He bumped up his scoring average to 20.2 points per game in 2025, which is 13 points better than his total as a rookie. Through the first two weeks of the 2025-26 season, Reaves is averaging an eye-popping 31.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. Those are All-Star numbers.
His multi-faceted game fits with any superstar. He can play off LeBron James or Doncic. Having earned his spot, he navigates changing roles and minutes easily—coming off the bench, starting, or being the primary, secondary, or tertiary option as needed.
He’s capable of dropping 51 points or 41 points. He’s capable of dishing out 16 assists, and the offense can run through him. He’s got the complete game. He can be the primary ball handler, he can score at three different levels, and he shoots an 86% clip from the free throw line. He can get to the line. He has an uncanny ability to draw fouls, using his body well to draw contact.
He is a low-maintenance, unique star player. While not yet an All-Star, he can fill that role if needed.
Each time LeBron or Luka sits or misses a game, Reaves seamlessly slides into the starring role for the Lakers. When LeBron or Luka return to the court, AR goes back to being No. 2 or No. 3 without a hitch. That’s quite a remarkable skill when you think about it. Many NBA players, such as Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal, and Russell Westbrook, don’t easily fit in. LaVine hasn’t changed his ways since he entered the league, whether it’s in Minnesota, Chicago, or Sacramento. Beal has struggled to find his groove at his last two stops (Phoenix and L.A.) after a successful run in Washington. Westbrook has played for six different teams since leaving Oklahoma City because it took him a while to figure out how to be a role player after being the focal point with the OKC Thunder.
Reaves has no trouble handling changing roles. His game is fluid. AR can adapt to any system, and he can do it without changing his game too much.
He has a super-high basketball IQ, and one of his greatest attributes is his capacity to remain calm during high-pressure situations. The Arkansas native has developed a reputation as a player who thrives in late-game situations for the Lakers, earning the trust of coaches and teammates.
“That guy is gonna show up in the big moments,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Reaves.
“He’s done that many times in his career,” Redick continued. “He’s done that many times since I’ve been his coach. I feel very comfortable with him making decisions in the late game.”
In his rookie season, Reaves hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Dallas Mavericks in overtime, providing an early sign of his “clutch” gene.
In his first playoff appearance, Reaves was given an opportunity to close the game, and he delivered. He dropped a 3-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 118-112 with 2:04 left. Then, he came off an Anthony Davis screen, beat two defenders (Tyus Jones and Dillon Brooks), and hit an off-balance jumper in the paint that iced the game with 1:30 left. He turned to the Lakers bench and screamed, “I’m him! I’m him!”
And this season, with LeBron and Luka both out with injuries, Reaves stepped up and delivered one of his most dramatic moments. He hit a one-legged floater at the buzzer after splitting two defenders in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to secure a 116-115 victory for an undermanned Lakers squad. This shot was particularly significant as it came in the same arena where he had missed a potential game-tying shot in the previous year’s playoffs, marking a moment of redemption.
The buzzer-beating shot capped off an outstanding overall performance by Reaves as he finished with 28 points and 16 assists in 40 minutes.
Closing the show is what star players do, and Reaves has closed the show on multiple occasions.
Reaves, who is only 27, will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. He is projected to receive around $30-$40 million per year. The Lakers can offer him a five-year deal, while others can only put down a four-year offer.
The Lakers are in a strong position to provide Reaves with the best opportunity to grow and succeed. They have stability at the top with new majority owner Mark Walter, who also owns World Series champion L.A. Dodgers. The Lakers have stability at the coaching level with Redick signed through the 2029-30 season. The Lakers also have a franchise player in Luka.
Doncic and Reaves are developing a close relationship on and off the court. They can often be seen laughing and joking on the bench during time-outs, and the banter sometimes extends beyond the game and spills over during post-game interviews. They genuinely like each other. This type of bond is similar to what Luka experienced with Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
It would be a smart move for the Lakers to continue the Doncic-Reaves partnership going. Whatever LeBron decides to do won’t make much of a difference as long as the Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka does his job and locks up Reaves long term.
AR is the homegrown star the Lakers can’t afford to lose.