Some of the performances Austin Reaves has put up this season have been sensational. From being undrafted, he has become a pivotal part of the Lakers. He scores the ball and is now expending himself defensively to supply the tactics Redick wishes to run. Some would call him the perfect team player. And his jump is making people feel he deserves recognition from the NBA.
Austin Reaves has trampolined to having one of the best jumps in the NBA this season. Last season, playing behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the undrafted guard had earned their trust. But this year, he has unlocked another facet of his game. He has managed to adjust to a major roster change with Luka Doncic coming in. And seeing his potential just rise, Lou Williams is advocating for being in the running for MIP this season.
“But again, if you are a guy that’s averaging 14 points and you come back the next year and you are averaging 25 or 26 points, you should be just as capable of winning that award as anybody else. So I don’t think there should be limitations because guys like this are unlikely to average 25.7 in 10 games and doing those kind of things. They are more likely to win it as opposed to anybody else. So I don’t want to see any limitations on it. But I definitely think this is something that Austin Reaves should be in the running for this type of award,” Williams said on Run It Back.
Mar 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts in the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
This season though, the award is already a majority winner. Pistons’ Cade Cunningham has taken flight this season not just as an individual but even elevating his team. Detroit was the laughing stock before the former number-one pick came. This season, he has averaged career-highs in points and assists and the Pistons are bound for the postseason for the first time since 2019.
It brought about an interesting suggestion from the podcast crew. Stories such as Reaves don’t come often. He was undrafted with no measurable hopes set on his back. But now he is the backbone for one of the most prolific NBA franchises that garners all the spotlight. Hence, they feel the NBA might have to come up with a separate award to commemorate such an inspiring chronicle.
Whether it happens or not is unknown. However, Austin Reaves is making waves and winning over the basketball fraternity with the maturity he displays. If not an award, Reaves is winning by proving people wrong.
Austin Reaves forces an apology from Chandler Parsons
The 26-year-old is averaging 19.9 points in his fourth season with the Lakers, a comfortable career high. However, what stands out is how much he holds back. In nine games without LeBron James in the lineup, his averages jump to 27.9 points and 8.3 assists per game. JJ Redick can’t stop complimenting his importance within the team.
And nor can some of the analysts and pundits around the NBA. Reaves is compelling the experts to acknowledge him. But not only that, he even made Chandler Parson go back on his words. The former Mavericks forward once said the 26-year-old couldn’t grow beyond his season last season. But after that he’s seen, Parsons doesn’t mind admitting he was wrong.
“Listen I talked to Austin Reaves about this. I saw him at the game. He didn’t take it as an insult. People who don’t know him or anything about him took it as an insult but that’s the world we live in. But listen the dude is balling. He’s always been an efficient, smart, tough player… Listen like I said 15/5/5 wasn’t an insult when I said that. I didn’t know how much room there was to grow. It’s 26 and 5 and that’s a big step up. So I was wrong and He is playing really good and I’m happy for him,” the former Rockets forward admitted on Run It Back.
To be fair, very few could have predicted Austin Reaves would keep getting better once Doncic entered the picture. But it hasn’t affected his game at all. He continues to compete with vigor each night and takes on a high degree of responsibility for the Lakers. If not any award, Reaves is earning a lot of respect around the NBA. And it’s all well deserved.
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