Austin Reaves’ career has been defined by him stepping up to the challenge. His path from undrafted rookie to Lakers superstar has been a steady upward climb, something not always common in the NBA. Each season, he’s been asked to take on a bigger role and each season, he’s answered the bell.

Austin Reaves has been the talk of the NBA lately. The Los Angeles Lakers veteran has been heating up in the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and the ou

Few players, if any, have raised their profile higher in the early goings of the 2025-26 NBA season than Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves.

Austin Reaves' play to start this season could give the Lakers a better post-LeBron James future than people previously could've imagined.

Reaves has been so good this season that LeBron James might just need to adjust to him when the Lakers' star returns

By accomplishing this rare statistical feat, Reaves saddled himself next to future and current Hall of Famers such as James Harden, Nikola Jokić, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson and Tiny Archibald as the only players in NBA history to average 30-plus points and 10-plus assists through the first five games of a season.

With Luka Doncic and LeBron James out injured, not to mention guards Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent, it’s felt a little like Austin Reaves against the world when watching the Lakers’ offense. Other teams are loading up on him and pressuring him all over the court, and that is taking a physical toll.