Austin Reaves, the shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, emerged as one of the standout success stories in the NBA last season. His remarkable progress earned him a new four-year contract during the offseason. In the latter part of the season, he became a dependable and integral part of the team, prompting LA to secure his future with the franchise. Reaves has now ascended to the role of the Lakers’ third-best player, heightening expectations for his performance. Fortunately, he appears well-prepared for this challenge, and the Lakers hold great optimism for his overall potential.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated recently shared his insights on Austin Reaves’ anticipated performance in the upcoming season during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. Mannix commented, “Austin Reaves after the trade that sent Russell Westbrook out, or yeah, the trade, he averaged like 17-18 points per game from then, so I think that’s going to be a continuation of last year. He’s going to get the same kind of role in that rotation.”

Reaves’ growth over the past year played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ success on the court. He played a significant part in unlocking their offense, and this season, he is expected to have an even greater role in ball-handling. The team witnessed the effectiveness of having him orchestrate plays during their playoff run and aims to capitalize on that once more this season. Reaves’ ability to perform under playoff pressure and continue improving as the stakes rise has earned the trust of his teammates and coaches.

With the experience gained from last season and his participation with Team USA over the summer, Reaves is poised for further development. The Lakers have high hopes that he will take another step forward in the upcoming season, and if he does, the potential for success in Los Angeles is limitless. As one of the more critical members of the roster, it is now his time to elevate his game to a new level.