The Lakers have two of the best scoring options in the league with LeBron James and Luka Doncic in their ranks. However, many people will argue that they also have a third-best scoring option as well. Yes, and it’s none other than, Austin Reaves. Many Lakers faithful believe that the 26-year-old is the one who takes their team to the next level. Moreover, they think Reaves can take over games completely on his own and take some weight off the shoulders of their other two superstars. Well, the LA shooting guard is making it very hard to argue his case of being the third-best option in the NBA at the moment.
AR is in scorching-hot form with LeBron out injured. Last night, the Lakers shooting guard dropped a 30-point performance against the Spurs to ensure back-to-back wins for his team. Reaves went 12-of-21 from the field including a solid 5-of-13 from the deep. While this was enough to impress the Laker Nation, a former Laker still isn’t doesn’t think that Reaves is the third-best option in the league right now. LA’s very own, Lou Williams while on the show ‘Run It Back‘, wasn’t convinced by Austin Reaves recent resurgence. “This is not a diss to Austin Reaves. He’s not even the best third option in Los Angeles,” said Williams.
Well, that’s a statement that will upset a lot of LA fans, that is for sure. Well, Williams did accept that Reaves is a great option for the Lakers, but he still didn’t agree that he’s the best in the league. He then went ahead and asked the host, who would she pick between Austin Reaves and Clippers’ Norman Powell. To which the host replied with Powell. Well, it’s undeniable that the 31-year-old Clippers star was having a stellar season up until an unfortunate injury sidelined him. But, Powell is the better option than Reaves is quite a debatable topic. While Powell was snubbed of an All-Star appearance this season due to his injury, Reaves recent form speaks volumes!
“This is not a diss to Austin Reaves, he’s not even the best 3rd option in Los Angeles.” – @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/o72JmV6lXl
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 19, 2025
Over the last five games, the shooting guard has averaged a massive 30.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7 assists. All this, while averaging 52.9 percent from the field and 42.5 from the deep. With LeBron out and Doncic having some off days, the 26-year-old is showing that he’s capable of stepping up when the team needs him. He has become an offensive weapon and helped the Lakers stay competitive whenever either of their superstars is missing. So, Austin Reaves definitely deserves much more credit than Williams gave the guard! Moreover, these stretches of games have given Reaves a chance to show his true ceiling. Something that an ex-Mavericks star questioned just a few days back.
Austin Reaves proves a former player’s prediction wrong
It seems like Lou Williams isn’t the only former NBA star who doesn’t believe in Austin Reaves’ scoring capabilities. Ex-Mavericks star, Chandler Parsons had a take on the Lakers’ shooting guard. Something he would wish he hadn’t said if he knew what was coming. Recently Parsons commented on Reaves’ ceiling as a player. He stated that the 26-year-old is already approaching his limit as a player and that he doesn’t view Reaves as a player who could average more than 15/5/5. Well, his disrespect for Reaves just doesn’t stop here!
“He’s not a player who’s going to continue to get exceptionally better. it’s not like the potential is through the roof with him.” Parsons stated. Well, he probably should’ve done some research on his part before making such a claim. Reaves has been defying the odds all his life from going undrafted to signing with LA as a two-way player to now making it to the spotlight. He did just that with Parsons as he made the former Mavericks player regret predicting what his ceiling is going to be. Since Parsons made this statement, AR has dropped two 28-point games and two games with 30+ points.
Don’t hide @ChandlerParsons. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/AgBRzKpEmC
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) March 18, 2025
He has truly made Parsons eat his words. A Lakers page called out the analyst for the same asking Parsons to not hide after his horrible prediction. To which he replied, “lol nobody is hiding. My boy is hooping. So ur mad when I give credit too ?” At last, Parsons had to accept the truth and acknowledge that Reaves is indeed playing tremendously well. Moreover, the 26-year-old shooting guard has truly shown how he’s capable of, in fact, he might just take these performances to the next level, who knows? We can only wait and watch as AR and the Lakers face the Nuggets next.
The post LA Legend’s Controversial Austin Reaves Remark Might Anger Laker Nation as Ex-Mavs Star’s Major Disrespect Unearths appeared first on EssentiallySports.
