Lakers 2025-26 Player Preview: Austin Reaves
The 2025-2026 NBA season could prove to be a make-or-break year when it comes to Austin Reaves and his future as a Los Angeles Laker.
With his impending free agency this upcoming summer, a standout season and, more importantly, a productive playoff run could give the Lakers a reason to pay their 3rd star. But a disappointing performance could lead to Reaves suiting up in a new uniform.
Here is what to look for out of Reaves as he enters the biggest season of his career.
AR gonna find himself in the All Star Game this season 😮💨🔥
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) October 4, 2025
Championship Level 3rd Option
With a full season alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James soon to come, Reaves will once again enter most nights as the 3rd option. But Reaves is not your average 3rd option; he can be a championship-level one.
Thanks to an upgrade in volume due to various injuries, Reaves reached the 20 points per game threshold for the first time last season. However, with Doncic now in town as the #1 guy, a healthy season for the Lakers team probably means Reaves drops below that threshold.
That is not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it means Reaves will get easier looks and stay fresh throughout the season. A stat line somewhere in the middle of last season and 2 years ago seems like the most likely scenario, which would put Reaves at around 18 PPG, 4 RPG, and 5 APG.
Reaves could also cross the 50/40/90 threshold, considering he will not be drawing teams’ first or even second-best perimeter defender most nights.
Competency on Defense
It is no secret that Austin Reaves is not a lockdown defender. However, it has looked worse than it actually is due to the Lakers’ roster construction.
With key defenders like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent missing time the last couple years, Reaves has ended up in a situation where players with his offensive talent rarely find themselves: guarding the league’s best perimeter scorers.
Now, though, with hopefully better health around him and the additions of Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, Reaves will not have to deal with guarding players he never should have had to.
Make no mistake, he will still have to make an effort, especially with Luka Doncic and LeBron James resting on the team’s worst offensive players, but things will be more manageable. Do not be surprised if Reaves looks the best he ever has on defense this season.
Playoff Performance
As mentioned, Reaves’ performance in this year’s playoffs could be the decider in whether the Lakers match his asking price.
Reaves had an excellent playoff run in 2023 when LA reached the Western Conference Finals and was solid again in 2024 against Denver, even taking over primary ball-handling duties down the stretch.
However, the series against Minnesota led to the script flipping on Reaves. He shot 5/14 in the final game of the series and did not shoot over 50% once over the course of 5 games. It is important to note that this was during the entire second half of Game 4 and while operating in an awkward small-ball lineup, yet Reaves still did not look the same.
Despite this, Reaves should be set for a bounce back regardless of the opponent in 2026. There should not be a scenario in which he is playing out of position or in a lineup that does not match up against the opposition.
Laker fans should know by now that Reaves can step up when it matters; he just needs a scenario he can at least reasonably work with.
Wrap Up
From undrafted to a 20 PPG scorer, Austin Reaves has only gotten better every single season of his career. Another jump will not only get him his payday but also solidify him as Luka Doncic’s shooting guard for the foreseeable future.
