Austin Reeves backs off ‘interesting’ lead role admission

LOS ANGELES – When is Los Angeles Lakers resume the regular season this Friday against the LA Clippers, they will have some good news on the injury front. Austin Reaveswho returned from a calf injury this month, is no longer on minutes limit, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned during the team’s practice on Thursday. Reaves’ return to the lineup has been a big boost for the Lakers, not only for his play on the court, but also for his leadership.

Going back to last season, Redick challenged Austin Reeves to take on a more leadership role with the Lakers. After Thursday’s practice, Reaves talked about that ongoing development and what made the leadership so interesting.

“He (JJ) challenged me on that before last year and before this year, we had a few meetings over the summer and he challenged me to be better in that aspect,” Reaves said. “I think it’s just an opportunity to really bond with everyone on the team. And not just learn about their basketball game, but about them as people.”

“We have a great group. All the guys enjoy being around each other. We have interesting people, including Luka (Doncic),” joked Reeves. “But it’s just fun getting to know these guys and creating real relationships. So when it comes to the court, they really believe in what I’m doing and what we’re doing as a team.”

Reaves returned to the Lakers lineup at the very end of their trip to the Grammys during their win against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2nd. After a so-so game by his standards, he looked like an All-Star player earlier this season when he exploded for 35 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Since his return, he has been on a minutes limit, and in the meantime, he came off the bench. But with the restriction now lifted after the All-Star break, he will likely return to the starting lineup against the Clippers.

Reaves has appeared in a total of 28 games so far this season, averaging just over 33 minutes per game. He is averaging a career-high 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals on 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent from the free throw line.

In his last game, a win against the Dallas Mavericks just before the break, he finished with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes.