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On the court, Austin Reaves really doesn’t have much left to prove. Well, except whether he can stay on the court.
The Lakers’ star guard is tough, he’s talented, he has the temperament and competitive compass to lead a team. He’s been blessed with a sense of the moment and a sense of humor. It’s been a treat to watch him go from an undrafted curiosity to star guard for the Lakers, recently the recipient of a four-year, $184-million new contract.
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Reaves foretold of his future stardom in 2023 after scoring nine consecutive points in a playoff victory over the Memphis Grizzlies: He’s him, he’s him!
Now entering Year 6, we’re long past doubting the ability of this kid from Newark, Ark. — except, of course, for his durability, his availability.
When he played last season, averaging 23.3 points on 49% shooting, the Lakers were 36-15 (.706). That’s better than every Western Conference team beside the Oklahoma City Thunder (.780) and San Antonio Spurs (.756).
But when Reaves was out of uniform and headband, the Lakers were a ho-hum 17-14.
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Read more: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ready to take charge of new-look Lakers
Reaves missed those games — and his shot at his first All-NBA and All-Star selections — because of right groin soreness in November, a left calf strain in December and January and a left oblique strain in April.
Those were frustrating injuries, but they weren’t random. Unfortunate, but not exactly unlucky. They weren’t freak injuries, they were conditions that cropped up when his usage ticked up.
It seemed a sign that Reaves could be overburdened when he had to carry extra weight more than just part-time.
So the Lakers need the 28-year-old that they’re paying more than anyone but Luka Doncic to steel himself against that wear and tear. They better hope he spent at least as much time training his body to withstand another NBA season of body blows as he did going low on golf courses this offseason.
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Monday at media day, where Doncic and Reaves sported matching golf tans, the now-longest-tenured Laker testified that he “had a really good summer and put myself in a really…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/swanson-lakers-paid-austin-reaves-110000219.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-29 11:00:00
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