One season ago, Austin Reaves emerged as perhaps the lone bright spot for the Los Angeles Lakers in what was the most disappointing season anyone could remember.
The undrafted guard showed a surprising skill set and displayed the potential to become a very good player.
This past season, Reaves truly started to tap into his potential. Unlike many young players, he gradually improved his production as the season went on, and he did very well in his first postseason appearance.
He quickly became a fan favorite, and deservedly so. The Arkansas native is about to become a free agent, and if the Lakers do not shell out enough big bucks to keep him, their fans could descend on Crypto.com Arena with pitchforks in hand.
Reaves 2022-23 regular season stats
13.0 points
3.0 rebounds
3.4 assists
52.9 percent field-goal shooting
39.8 percent 3-point shooting
86.4 percent free-throw shooting
Reaves' 2023 playoff stats
16.9 points
4.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
46.4 percent field-goal shooting
44.3 percent 3-point shooting
89.5 percent free-throw shooting
Takeaways
From the beginning of the season, it was clear the 2022-23 model of Reaves was vastly upgraded from the previous season’s. His 3-point shot was vastly improved, and he showed the type of poise while handling the ball and facilitating that is seldom seen in a second-year player.
After the All-Star break, he turned it up, averaging 17.6 points on an amazing 57.8% field-goal shooting and 44.3% from downtown in 23 regular-season contests. A 35-point explosion on March 19 versus the Orlando Magic in which he shot 16-of-18 from the free-throw line instantly put him into head coach Darvin Ham’s starting lineup the rest of the way.
Reaves opened the playoffs with a bang by putting up 23 points in Game 1 of the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies. Fourteen came in the fourth quarter. It was one of seven postseason games in which he had at least 20 points.
He still has some room for growth on the defensive end and when it comes to being a facilitator. But he has clearly become close to untouchable for the Lakers.
Final grade: A
