Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves told NBA reporter Jovan Buha of The Athletic that he wants to play point guard more next season. The Arkansas native has been working with the Lakers’ strength and conditioning team this offseason to better handle his projected increased workload.
“I want to get back to playing point guard a little more and what we did at the end of the year,” Reaves said. “I feel comfortable and like I’m able to do that.”
Reaves is arguably the third-best player on the Lakers behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Over the last two NBA seasons, the Lakers are 13-26 without Reaves in the lineup and 63-62 when the guard plays.
In addition, the Lakers are three points better defensively with Reaves on the court. The Oklahoma product, who is an undrafted player, averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season for the Lakers while shooting 52.9% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The 25-year-old Reaves took his game to another level in the 2023 postseason, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. The Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, but Los Angeles is expected to compete for the title again next season.
Reaves signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Lakers in restricted free agency. He has career NBA averages of 10.2 points and 2.6 assists with the Lakers. Reaves developed a good rapport with LeBron and Davis last season and it sounds like the Lakers are going to put the ball in his hands more often next season, as according to Buha, Los Angeles plans on running more of its offense through Reaves moving forward.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“The Lakers plan on running more of their offense through Reaves next season, unlocking the point guard skills he’s flashed through his first two years in the league, according to team sources not authorized to speak publicly,” Buha wrote.
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