Austin Reaves joins the NBA greats with the latest feat to open the season

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves continues to position himself among the NBA’s elite, joining a short list of all-time greats with their statistical results during the opening part of the 2025-26 season.

As it is The Lakers (3-2) prepare for Friday night’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies (3-2), Reaves’ blistering start has put him in historic company and strengthened his case for a major contract extension expected to start at roughly $30 million a year.

On The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon highlighted the rare combination of scoring and player play through the team’s first five games.

“Austin Reaves is the sixth guy in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 10 assists in the first five games of a season,” McMahon said. “The others — the Joker, the MVP Russ, James Harden that same season, Tiny Archibald and Oscar Robertson twice. Twenty-five points, 15 assists and the game-winning buzzer-beater — that’s Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Magic Johnson.”

The 27-year-old guard carried the Lakers in the the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. He also became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2005 to open a season with five straight 25-point games, underscoring both his consistent scoring and his emergence as a reliable offensive leader.

Reaves is averaging 34.2 points, 10 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three and 89.7 percent from the free throw line. His composure late in the game was on full display Wednesday’s 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolveswhen he hit a floater in the final seconds to secure the win.

Austin Reaves’ historic start puts him alongside NBA legends as the Lakers deal with key injuries

Reeves’ breakout spurred speculation about his long-term future in Los Angeles. In a report released Friday, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst noted that the league’s belief is valid Reaves’ next contract will start at $30 million per yearwith one executive suggesting the five-year extension could be structured to keep him in Los Angeles beyond his current contract.

Meanwhile, the two Lakers stars remain in different stages of recovery. James has yet to make an appearance this season after the team announced before the opener that he would be re-evaluated in three to four weeks due to a sciatica injury that caused nerve irritation in his glute. Doncic, who missed the last three games due to a sprained left finger and leg contusion, is official listed as questionable for Friday’s contest in Memphis.

Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have relied heavily on Reaves to anchor their offense, using his play to keep pace while shorthanded. The team improved to 3-2 with Wednesday’s win, holding steady atop the Western Conference standings despite the limited availability of its stars.

The Lakers will face the Grizzlies at 9:30 PM ET on Prime Video before returning home on Sunday to host the Miami Heat (3-2).

Reaves’ early-season brilliance has put him in elite statistical territory, matching the milestones held by legends like Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant — and further cementing his status as a cornerstone of the Lakers’ future.