A couple of years ago, Austin Reaves burst onto the scene and took a big leap to help the Los Angeles Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals.
He then signed a big deal in the offseason and was expected to be their third-best player behind Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Reaves, who shined in the summer with Team USA, wasn’t that sharp early in the season, and some were slightly disappointed about his performances after signing that deal.
Now, under J.J. Redick, the Arkansas native is thriving and looking like a star in the making.
That’s why Skip Bayless had to tip his hat to him.
Following their win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Bayless praised Reaves for seeing the game in the same way that LeBron James does:
“I don’t know about you, but I love watching Austin Reaves play basketball. Sees the game the way LeBron does. Fearlessly confident in his ability to drive it or pass it or long-distance shoot it,” he tweeted.
I don’t know about you, but I love watching Austin Reaves play basketball. Sees the game the way LeBron does. Fearlessly confident in his ability to drive it or pass it or long-distance shoot it.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 9, 2024
Reaves is a fearless player, and he’s going to do whatever the team needs from him to help them win.
He’s a much better defender than people give him credit for.
He’s also someone who’s constantly looking to make the right play, whether it’s kicking the ball out to the open man, finishing inside, or pulling up from beyond the arc.
More importantly, he’s not a high-maintenance kind of player.
He knows how to play within his role, and while he won’t hesitate to take over a game and attempt big shots down the stretch, he knows how to make the most of his touches.
With averages of 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, he’s established himself as one of the best role players in the game.
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