It's official: Austin Reaves is the best third option in the NBA

Patrick Beverley received some backlash when he anointed Lakers guard Austin Reaves as the best third option in the NBA. The tall claim was widely dismissed, with analysts bringing up names like the Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis, the Grizzlies' Desmond Bane, the Cavaliers' Evan Mobley and the Thunder's Chet Holmgren.

With each passing day, Beverley is looking like a genius for his take. In the Lakers' 125-109 win over the Spurs on Monday, Reaves finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists, just one day after dropping 28 points and six assists in a 107-96 win over the Suns. 

Since the All-Star break, Reaves has averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds at impressive 44/39/90 shooting splits. The 26-year-old has allowed the Lakers to withstand LeBron James' injury, raising his game to a new level in the latter's absence. To that end, Reaves has averaged 28.4 points, 8.7 assists and 6.7 rebounds in games without James, proving he can be a second option when called upon.

Furthermore, the Lakers are 11-3 when Reaves scores 25 or more points — another marker of his value to the team. 

After his performance on Friday, many of Reaves' teammates sang his praises. While Luka Doncic still can't believe Reaves went undrafted in 2021, Jordan Goodwin explained why "AR-15" has firmly established himself as the best third option in the league.