Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Rising superstar Austin Reaves is owed an apology

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 11:27 AM ET

Entering the 2023-24 season, Austin Reaves was expected to take a leap in light of his stellar showing in the 2023 playoffs.

Reaves let a lot of people down. His PPG went up from 13.0 to 15.9, but his efficiency took a hit. His defense remained a concern. By the end of the season, many felt the undrafted player had hit his ceiling. He was dubbed as nothing more than a solid rotational piece.

It turns out Reaves needed a new coach who believed in his abilities. Under JJ Redick, Reaves has seen his USG% (19.8 to 23.2) and shot attempts (11.5 to 14.3) jump significantly, and the added responsibility has led to career highs across the board. Reaves is averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds in his fourth season, establishing himself as the best third option in the NBA and an elite playmaking guard.

Over his last 10 games, Reaves is averaging a superstar-esque 27.3 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds on 53/38/96 shooting splits.

Austin Reaves over his last 10 games:

31 PTS - 7 REB - 8 AST
30 PTS - 3 AST - 2 BLK
24 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST
18 PTS - 6 REB - 4 AST
25 PTS - 2 REB - 5 AST
22 PTS - 5 REB - 8 AST
30 PTS - 7 REB - 6 AST
28 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST
37 PTS - 8 REB - 13 AST
28 PTS - 8 REB - 3 AST

(Via… pic.twitter.com/EfX2h1Atrb
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 30, 2025

As Reaves continues to ascend, many, including Chandler Parsons, Austin Rivers and Lou Williams, owe the Lakers guard an apology.

In Oct. 2023, Parsons said Reaves had maxed out as a 15/5/5 player. Rivers was harsher in his critique, suggesting that Reaves wasn't "in the same realm" as Jordan Poole in terms of talent. Williams recently dismissed the suggestion that Reaves had turned into the best third option in the NBA.

At some point, a lot of those ex-players will have to eat crow and accept they were wrong to put a ceiling on Reaves. Patrick Beverley has urged Parsons to start.

White on White crime smh @ChandlerParsons now apologize like man ‍♂️ https://t.co/2xtUL3CSay
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) March 31, 2025

Reaves' true-shooting percentage of 60.8 percent means he's on pace for the most efficient 20-point season by an undrafted player.

Austin Reaves this season:

20.1 PPG
4.5 RPG
5.9 APG
60.8% TS

He’s on pace to have the most efficient 20-PPG season by an undrafted player in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/dmcuurhwqW
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 30, 2025

Reaves is proving his doubters wrong, and it may be time for them to admit their mistake.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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