.jpg)
13 hours ago
2
Austin Reaves received a golden opportunity to show the Los Angeles Lakers that he'll be worth big money once the summer of 2026 rolls around, and he has taken full advantage of it.
Through his first five games of the new season, the skilled 27-year-old has put up gaudy averages of 34.2 points, 10.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds on an incredible 68.7% true shooting percentage.
Whether he did so intentionally or not, Reaves' sensational beginning to the new season with Luka Dončić and LeBron James sidelined for a few games led to him entering rarefied air and landing on an exclusive list with some of the greatest players to ever step foot on the court.
"Austin Reaves is the sixth player to average 30+ PPG and 10+ APG in his first five games of a season," NBA PR shared via X/Twitter on Friday afternoon.
By accomplishing this rare statistical feat, Reaves saddled himself next to future and current Hall of Famers such as James Harden, Nikola Jokić, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson and Tiny Archibald as the only players in NBA history to average 30-plus points and 10-plus assists through the first five games of a season.
Throughout his incredible early-season stretch, Reaves has authored a few all-time performances. On Sunday night, in his first game of the season without Dončić or James by his side, Reaves poured in a career-high 51 points to go along with 11 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Lakers to a 127-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Reaves' latest sensational performance came on Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he scored 28 points, dished out 16 assists and hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to stun Minnesota in enemy territory and win by a score of 116-115.
With an NBA Cup matchup ahead on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, Reaves will have another chance to show that he, Dončić and James are the most fearsome trio in the NBA.
More NBA: Victor Wembanyama says that getting dunked on is ‘part of the game’
English (US)