Welcome to Tate Sports

Tate Sports

Lakers Preview: Can Austin Reeves, who is in contract year, make it to the All-Star?

7:54pm, 6 October 2025Basketball

The Lakers' last season changed even before Luca Doncic arrived. The Lakers, led by Reddick, traded Anthony Davis two months after the start of last season, and Luca Doncic's joining completely changed the team's direction for the rest of the season.

At each stage, no player saw their role change more than Austin Reeves. After starting the year as a shooting guard, Reeves was a point guard after Russell traded before moving to a brand new role with Doncic.

However, in terms of his future role, the lineup should be more stable. What will happen to Reeves' future? After figuring things out instantly in the second half of last season, what is his role like this season?

What is his best situation?

Although Reeves' role changed a lot last season, he has been successful in it all. Although there are times when he found his foothold when he became the starting point guard in December and January, these will certainly help his career. It is this experience, combined with other experiences he has gained throughout his career, that can allow him to spend a big season with the Lakers. He will enter a season with a role and unless he is seriously injured, his role will be the same as him throughout the year. He plays side by side with two all-time players and has a chance to compete with the team's second or third best perimeter defender almost every night.

He will do this within the contract year, which inspires players, which is different from anything else in the sports world. Considering there is a summer to play a more clear role this season, Reeves saw his 3-point jump. Last season, his shooting was good and bad, and ended up just above career average. His conversion speed is also much higher, from 37.7% of shooters to more than 40%.

Another important area he needs to improve is defense. However, as his offensive responsibility increases, his defensive influence also declines accordingly. This season, with Doncic and James taking on most of the ball responsibilities, Reeves is able to redistribute his energy to his defense, and he needs to improve on the defensive end without having to play top offense.

This is Reeves' most efficient season to date, as his role becomes more refined. His ability to play with Doncic eliminates any questions about their co-creation of the future, and Reeves, rightfully, won a big contract next summer.

What is his worst case?

Not only has he remained an active contributor in all the changes Reeves experienced last season, he also spent a year in his career. Even in the worst case scenario, Reeves has a high sense of self-awareness and can still be an influential player even on resting nights. When he feels bad, he can still help the team as the core of the organization.

Entering this season, the biggest problem surrounding Reeves is not the data, but his fit with Doncic. Well, in the worst case, this combination simply won't work.

On the offensive end, Reeves cannot find a stable rhythm. Although he may be able to contribute in many aspects, in too many games, in defense, the opponent will unscrupulously point him. Because of this, the team struggled to find ways to get Reeves and Doncic to the best of their performance on the court at the same time, which raised a lot of questions about whether they should get him back next offseason.

Reeves' career season is better than the previous season, and he can neither spend the best year in statistics nor argue about the best year of his career. Every season, he will solve the problems of the previous seasons and show more in the game.

It is precisely with this in mind that we look forward to another great season for Reeves. Imagine a strong season that will really cement his offensive influence. At the end of the day, Reeves has a good record of improving players and is also a contract year in his biggest improvement in career, and he is fully confident that he can hit the All-Star.

Mini-game recommendations:River Land Escape

Links: