JJ Redick explains why Austin Reaves belongs in the LeBron-Luke ranks

LOS ANGELES – Like Los Angeles Lakers ready to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, much of the pregame was still a work in progress An amazing performance by Austin Reeves from the night before when he fell career highlight 51 points against the Sacramento Kings in the win. Reaves stepped in in the absence of Lakers’ main stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

However, during his pregame press conference, the Lakers head coach JJ Redick admitted that Austin Reaves has as much say in the team as James and Doncic. In the offseason, one way Redick challenged Reaves was by taking on a leadership role.

“The biggest thing was him stepping up as a leader and recognizing that this is his team as much as LeBron’s or Luke’s team. And recognizing that he has innate natural leadership skills and is able to use them more consistently,” Redick said.

“I told him there’s no excuse. You’re no longer the guy who didn’t draft, who’s a young player who’s unproven. You’re one of the guys now, and he’s really responded to that,” Redick continued. “I think in his preseason, his September, so far in the regular season, I’ve just seen a lot of growth from him.”

Before Luka Dončić was ruled out due to multiple injuries problems, he’s had a great start to the season for the Lakers. But Reaves is off to a good start as well, somewhat overshadowed by Doncic’s back-to-back 40+ point games. Then came Sunday night against the Kings when Reaves showed what he’s capable of when he’s the go-to option on offense.

In the Lakers’ first three games of the season, Reaves averaged 34.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 56.6 percent from the field, 45 percent from the three-point line and 89.2 percent from the free throw line.

As his averages show, Reaves doesn’t just make an impact in scoring a game. When he dropped 51 points, he also added 11 rebounds and nine assists. Redick admitted that Reaves can do things on the court that he never could when he was still playing.

“He’s a better player than I’ve ever been. There’s certain things you do in basketball that I can’t coach you on, I just don’t. I didn’t have the game that he had,” Redick said. “There are other things I can teach you about. And I think his willingness to just be coached from the first day I got this job to today, every day he’s just willing to be coached. And it’s been great.”