Austin Reaves played a crucial role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ deep run to the playoffs last season. As a result, he was moved from a bench role to a full-time starter. However, with the team’s slow 3-5 start, head coach Darwin Ham decided to shake things up and try a different lineup. This decision involved moving Reaves to the bench while promoting Cam Reddish to a starting position.

The Oklahoma alum has seamlessly adapted himself to his role as the leader of the second unit. So much so that he has surpassed even veteran point guard Chris Paul, who is coming off the bench for the first time. Reaves now stands as the front-runner for the prestigious – you guessed it- Sixth Man of the Year award.

Austin Reaves outshines Chris Paul and others

Austin has thrived since moving to the bench role, posting double-digits in seven of his nine games off the bench. Consequently, he has found himself leading the sixth-man chart. According to HoopsHype, Reaves has surpassed Chris Paul, who sits in the seventh position, in his quest to the top. Paul has played 17 games since donning the Golden State Warriors jersey and is averaging a career-low 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. Despite what the stats might show, he has been an invaluable addition to the Warriors’ second unit, adding more depth and veteran presence.

However, the NBA season is still in its infancy, and the needles tend to fluctuate a lot. Take last season as an example. Russell Westbrook was a comfortable favorite for the most part of the season. However, Malcolm Brogdon entered the talks towards the end and eventually won the Sixth Man honors. And if the above list is any indication, we are in for another wild ride.

How well has the new lineup worked for the Lakers?

Darwin Ham tried out the adjusted lineup for the first time during the team’s 122-119 victory against the Phoenix Suns. The result was immediate, as the Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak. Despite coming off the bench, Reaves was on the floor for 35 minutes and scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and dished out seven assists. Cam Reddish also showed a marked improvement in his performance since his defensive prowess and low-usage offensive role found a better fit alongside Los Angeles’ two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He scored a season-high 17 points to go along with three steals.

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Austin Reaves is averaging 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 17 games he has played so far. The Lakers have won seven of the nine games since Reaves moved to the bench. Addressing the lineup adjustment, Reaves told Dan Woike, “I’m versatile enough and understanding enough and actually care about winning. So regardless if it’s a ‘demotion’ or ‘realignment’, I can handle that. And I’m a realist about what we’re trying to do as a group. That’s all I want to do is win.”

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