SALT LAKE CITY — Move over, Hillbilly Kobe, because JJ Redick has a new nickname for Austin Reaves.
It’s only been three video games, but the sixth-year guard has already given the Lakers loads to be blissful with since Reaves signed a four-year, $185 million contract to stay with the franchise during the offseason.
Austin Reaves continues to shine for the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
He adopted up a pair of spectacular showings in the Lakers’ first two video games of the season with arguably his greatest efficiency yet on Sunday.
He recorded 29 factors on 7-for-12 capturing (4 of 5 on 3-pointers) and 11-for-13 free throw capturing to go with 4 assists and a season-low 3 turnovers in the 132-123 win over the Jazz at Delta Center.
“AR so far in these three games has just been Mr. Consistency,” Redick said.
Austin Reaves has scored at least 23 factors in each of the Lakers’ first three video games despite not taking more than 13 discipline objective makes an attempt in any of these contests. NBAE via Getty Images
A statistical marker of Reaves’ consistency to begin the season: Sunday was not only his third straight contest he scored at least 23 factors, but he’s also shot at least 54% from the discipline in each sport so far.
He hasn’t taken more than 13 discipline objective makes an attempt in any of these video games, either.
The most spectacular half of Reaves’ begin to the season is that “he hasn’t pressed at all,” as Redick put it.
He’s let video games come to him.
“It’s something we’ve acknowledged with him,” Redick added. “You got to play the game in front of you. He’s just played the game, and the results have spoken for themselves.”
But when Reaves does want to take over, he’s confirmed he can, like when he scored 15 factors in the second quarter against the Jazz to assist the Lakers come back from an 18-point deficit and take a three-point lead going into halftime.
Austin Reaves continues to degree up. Getty Images
“He’s extremely patient, an unreal player, really skilled,” Walker Kessler said of Reaves. “And the reality is, it’s not a one-man sport. But I mean, AR’s – he had 29 points on 12 shots. His ability to score too and play make for other guys is unreal as well.”
Reaves’ strategy is one he discovered from his household while rising up.
“It’s just make the right play, it’s simple,” he said. “I speak about it all the time. It’s something that my mother and father and my brother taught me rising up was: Play the sport the proper method, the sport’s gonna reward you.
“We have a team that understands roles and what we ask them to do. And if they’re gonna do everything that we ask them to do, we gotta help them in these situations. The thing about our team is, there’s no ego, there’s no anything, just wanna win basketball games and however that happens is the main thing.”
With the Lakers having a 3-0 document to begin 2026-27, and with Reaves averaging 26.7 factors (63.9% capturing) and 6.3 assists this season, it’s secure to say the strategy has labored so far.
“Obviously his efficiency, it’s off the roof,” Luka Doncic said. “And just to have him next to me, leading this team, it’s awesome.”
Source hyperlink
