LeBron James Uses One Word to Describe Austin Reaves After Monster Game

On Saturday, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves woke up feeling ready to make an impact.

With LeBron James sidelined due to left ankle soreness and Luka Doncic still dealing with a calf injury, Reaves knew he needed to step up against the Indiana Pacers.

And that’s precisely what he did.

Reaves scored a career-high 45 points, leading the Lakers to a 124-117 victory over the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena. He shot an impressive 14-of-26 from the field, adding seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

The 26-year-old guard dropped 14 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the Pacers and secure the Lakers’ fifth consecutive win. Los Angeles has now won 11 of its last 13 games, improving their record to 31-19.

As always, James was excited about Reaves’ standout performance, sharing his support on social media.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers expressed his excitement for Austin Reaves. Instagram/kingjames

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers expressed his excitement for Austin Reaves. Instagram/kingjames

Reaves also received plenty of help, with Rui Hachimura contributing 24 points and nine rebounds, while Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent combined for 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.

Reaves, who went undrafted in 2021 after playing at the University of Oklahoma, has developed into a key player for the Lakers in recent years. His versatile scoring ability has been a major factor in his growth. He’s increased his scoring average every season.

This year, Reaves is averaging 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Despite being listed as questionable due to a sore elbow, Reaves chose to play against the Pacers, stepping up for his team amidst the Lakers’ depleted roster.