Red-hot Austin Reaves solidifies his place in Lakers lore

Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy and LeBron James are only a handful of all-time greats who've donned Los Angeles Lakers colors. Among them, only West tallied at least 25 points and five assists through each of the first five games of an NBA season.

That was until Austin Reaves went bonkers to start the ongoing campaign. By posting 28 points and 16 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, including a buzzer-beater to seal the victory, Reaves achieved a feat no Laker has since West in 1970-71.

Austin Reaves has arrived as a superstar

Reaves, playing for a new contract, has started the season tallying 171 points, 50 assists, and 28 rebounds on 52.5 percent shooting. He's the third player ever to reach those numbers after five games, per the NBA.

The 27-year-old would likely not have tallied those stats if LeBron James and Luka Doncic were available for all five games. While James has yet to make his season debut, Doncic has missed three straight games with a finger injury. As a result, Reaves' USG% has skyrocketed to 30.7, up significantly from last year's 23.0

It's a credit to Reaves for seizing the opportunity and establishing himself as a bona fide NBA superstar. Lakers head coach JJ Redick, though, is the least bit surprised. 

"He's established himself as a bad dude," Redick said of Reaves, via The Athletic. "He did that last year. I think leaguewide, he was viewed as a really good player. Maybe some people viewed him — what tier he is, I don't know. I don't care about that. But last year, I think he established himself as a bad dude."