Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Shaquille O’Neal shares concerns about how Austin Reaves will fit in once LeBron James is back

Originally posted on HITC | By Luca Rosano | Last updated Nov 2, 2025 8:23 AM ET

Austin Reaves is already looking like an All-Star for the Los Angeles Lakers just five games into the season.

With both LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined, Reaves has been carrying the load for Los Angeles over their last three games.

The 27-year-old is in his fifth season with the Lakers and averaging 34.2 points, 10.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game, ranking him third in the league for scoring.

He’s taken over as the main playmaker on offense as well, not just scoring but also setting up his teammates.

Shaquille O’Neal expects Austin Reaves to return to form when LeBron James is back

Reaves’ stats have gone up with Doncic sidelined, but even when Doncic has played, Reaves has continued to produce big numbers.

The real test will come when James is back in the lineup, and there’s some question about how much of his current role Reaves will be able to keep once that happens.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Shaquille O’Neal isn’t convinced that Reaves can keep up this level of play once LeBron returns. Speaking on ‘The Big Pod’, he shared:

“Austin Reaves is playing out of his mind, but I know when he comes back he goes right back to the regular Austin Reaves, we’ll see how that plays out.”

Why Austin Reaves is a natural fit alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James

Even if his stats take a hit when LeBron comes back, Reaves is still built to play an important role.

Reaves does more than just fill up the stat sheet. He’s smart on the ball, makes good decisions, and has shown he can handle different roles depending on what the team needs.

The Lakers also benefit from Reaves’ ability to keep things steady when Doncic and James need a rest, providing some much-needed stability to the offence.

If anything, his versatility becomes even more valuable in a supporting role. He may not get All-Star numbers, but he can still make a big impact as the third option behind two superstars.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: