Without Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the lineup, Austin Reaves once again stepped up. After losing two straight preseason games, the Lakers finally got a win, where AR was the best player on the night. 21 points in 23 minutes, he continues to set expectations of where he can evolve his game. However, with LeBron and Luka out, there was a scare in the third quarter, with questions about Reaves returning.

Speaking about it, the 27-year-old put cold water on those talks. Renowned reporter, Jovan Buha, tweeted, “Austin Reaves on his leg: ‘I’m good. I’m good.” The incident was in the third quarter of Sunday’s game. Reaves appeared injured following a collision and had to exit the game. AR missed the previous game against the Warriors, where the Lakers lost 111-103. But he was present for the first preseason game against the Suns.

In that game, AR also had a quick-fire 20 points in 21 minutes while shooting at 55% FG. Luka Doncic remains day-to-day, due to his number of minutes with Slovenia in EuroBasket. Even LeBron James was ruled out for not just this game but 4-6 weeks after he suffered a sciatica injury earlier during the offseason. Without them, the bucket getting opportunity was truly on Austin Reaves. And the former Sooners alum grabbed it with both hands and went to convert 7-10 FG.

Another reporter, Mike Trudell, explained the Lakers head coach’s reaction, similar to AR’s. “JJ Redick said he thinks Austin Reaves is “fine” after taking a knee to the lower leg in the third quarter.” It’s great news for the Lakers nation, as AR remains their best performer from the preseason. Last year, the undrafted standout averaged 20.2 points, starting 73 games. This left a lot of people impressed.

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, “League sources scouting the Lakers in the preseason debut in Palm Desert left impressed with how Reaves held up as the primary offensive option. More of that in the non-Doncic minutes is suddenly even more critical.” Another great news is that Luka Doncic is expected to play for at least two games.

Now, the Lakers have three more exhibition games in just four days. Starting with a return fixture against the Suns, and the very next day, they take on Doncic’s previous team. So, there is a chance that Luka will face the Dallas Mavericks and start getting some minutes under his belt. And finally, the Purple and Gold franchise closes out its pre-season against the Sacramento Kings.

Austin Reaves continues to gain praise despite an uncertain future

Throughout the off-season, much was made of Luka Doncic and his transformation. After all, the Slovenian shed close to 31 pounds in just a few months. Similarly, Austin Reaves transformed after there were calls of him not being physical enough while defending.

The 6-feet-5 guard bulked up by an estimated 5-10 pounds of muscle, entering his contract year stronger to counter physical defenses that exposed him in prior playoffs. The head coach even appreciated this transformation.

During his pre-season press conference, Redick proudly said, “Every day that he’s been in the gym, he’s been the best player in the gym”.

He specifically highlighted the physical results of Reaves’ hard work, noting, “His body is really good right now. He’s really strong. His burst, his athleticism. It’s evident that he spent a lot of time working on his body this summer.” The forthcoming attitude of AR and his ability to improve come at a crucial time for him. Moreover, the 27-year-old previously turned down a four-year $89.2 million deal- effectively banking on himself for a strong season ahead.

After which, he thought his tenure with the Lakers would be over soon. “I thought that there was a good chance for, like, a week after I declined the extension that there was a possibility I’d get traded,” Reaves said. “I mean, it’s still a possibility.” Despite not agreeing to the extension, Reaves’ sentiment has been that he wants to retire as a Laker.

His current contract is a four-year, $54 million contract. Reportedly, he can earn much more in a lucrative deal worth around $35 million annually next summer when he becomes a free agent.