Lakers Undrafted Guard Skips the All-Star Leap
Austin Reaves’ rise was once framed as a feel-good story: an undrafted guard who worked his way into the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation, then into their closing lineups, and eventually into the national spotlight. Yet, framing his development as an “all-star leap” now undersells what’s actually happening. Reaves hasn’t simply climbed into that tier; he’s jumped past it. This season, he’s playing like one of the league’s most complete guards and has established himself as the Lakers’ clear second option behind Luka Dončić.
Since Luka’s arrival, the Lakers’ offense has taken on a new hierarchy, and Reaves has thrived within it. Rather than shrinking alongside a ball-dominant superstar, Reaves has amplified his impact. He’s become the perfect counterbalance to Luka’s heliocentric style, a guard who can score at all three levels, make smart reads, and punish defenses when attention shifts away from the primary creator. Night after night, Reaves is no longer just capitalizing on open looks; he’s demanding defensive respect. What separates Reaves from many breakout guards is how deliberate his leap has been. His shooting efficiency has taken a noticeable jump, particularly from deep and in pull-up situations. Once viewed as a streaky shooter, Reaves now profiles as a dependable perimeter threat who can also create his own shot late in the clock. His mechanics are cleaner, his confidence is higher, and his shot selection reflects a player who understands both his role and his ceiling. The result is a scoring profile that looks sustainable, not situational.
Statistically, the improvement is just as striking. Reaves is producing career highs across the board, from points and assists to usage and true shooting efficiency. More importantly, those numbers are coming in meaningful moments. He’s closing games, initiating offense when Luka rests, and taking on tougher defensive assignments. This isn’t empty production; it’s impact that shows up in wins. Calling Reaves an all-star-level player may have made sense a year ago. Now, it feels limiting. His consistency, efficiency, and two-way reliability place him firmly in the All-NBA conversation, especially among guards who influence winning beyond raw scoring totals. He controls tempo, draws fouls, and makes the right play with remarkable regularity, traits that often separate great players from merely good ones. For an undrafted guard, the trajectory is unprecedented, but at this point, the label no longer matters. Austin Reaves isn’t chasing an all-star leap. He’s already cleared it, and the Lakers are benefiting from a player who looks every bit like an All-NBA cornerstone alongside Luka Dončić.
