1 player JJ Redick sees opportunity for multiple injuries

LOS ANGELES – With Austin Reeves’ recent injury diagnosisno doubt Los Angeles Lakers will feel his absence. Reaves will be out at least a month with a calf injury, and the team is already without Gabe Vincent in the backcourt due to injury. But with multiple guards out of the lineup, that leaves an opportunity for another player to step up, someone the Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick he already has in mind.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, JJ Redick mentioned that Nick Smith Jr. the only player on the roster who will get more opportunities with Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent out with injuries.

“I think there’s an opportunity for Nick, which happens throughout the season a lot of two ways when there’s multiple injuries at the position. With Gabe (Vincent) continuing to be out, I think, the next game, two games, three games, however long it takes, Nick now has an opportunity,” Redick said.

“He helped us win two games already this season in Toronto and in Portland. So we trust him,” Redick continued. “That would probably be the guy … we’re not going to ask him to do more. We never ask guys to do more. But he’s going to get consistent minutes for the foreseeable future.”

Smith joined the Lakers right at the start of training camp under a two-way contract. The 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, he played two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets before being waived ahead of the 2025-26 season.

When Smith got minutes with the Lakers, he gave the team an extra ball handler with a propensity to score. Again on November 3, with all three of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Reaves, Smith came off the bench and dropped 25 points while shooting 5 of 6 from 3-point range in huge win against Portland Trail Blazers.

He also managed to get developmental reps in the G League with the South Bay. In his first game against South Bay on Nov. 21, Smith finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists while shooting 4-of-9 from 3-point range. After that game, Smith talked about what he wanted to do when he was assigned to the G League.

“It’s nice to just come out here, play hard and try to win some games,” Smith said. “I’m working on the things Coach JJ needs me to work on,”

Smith has appeared in 12 games so far, including one start, logging just over 15 minutes per game. He averaged 7.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. Due to injuries, Smith will likely remain with the Lakers for the foreseeable future.