Five games into the season, the Lakers are showing signs of life at 3-2 after a nail-biting 116-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening.
Austin Reaves played hero, dropping 28 points in 40 minutes and hitting a buzzer-beater that sent fans into a frenzy. The 27-year-old guard has been carrying the Lakers offensively through their first five games, and if he keeps this up, he might be heading to his first All-Star game.
Reaves delivered when it mattered most on Wednesday, especially with the team missing its two biggest stars. Both LeBron James and Luka Doncic were sidelined with injuries, forcing others to step up.
And step up he did.
Reaves has scored at least 25 points in all five games this season, including a career-high 51 points against the Kings last Sunday.
His stats through five games are eye-popping: 34.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Without LeBron and Luka available, Reaves took on both scoring and playmaking duties against the Timberwolves. He finished with 28 points and dished out a career-high 16 assists. Though his shooting wasn’t as efficient as usual, there was never any doubt who would take the final shot.
Down 115-114 with just 6.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Reaves weaved through Minnesota’s defense and lofted a perfect floater that dropped through the net as time expired. Game over. Lakers win.
What makes this even more impressive? Reaves is doing all this while playing on an expiring $13.9 million contract – an absolute steal for his production.
He’s expected to decline his player option for next season and seek a massive long-term deal. The Lakers simply can’t afford to let him walk away. His value to the franchise grows with each game, and it seems like just a matter of time before he signs a big extension to stay in purple and gold.
For a player who went undrafted, Reaves’ journey to potential All-Star is pretty remarkable. And with performances like Wednesday’s game-winner, Lakers fans are witnessing the emergence of their next homegrown star.
