Austin Reaves has been stepping up for the Los Angeles Lakers in recent games by taking on increased defensive responsibilities, particularly against opposing teams’ primary scorers and ball-handlers. 

This shift in defensive assignments occurred following a lineup change that saw Taurean Prince replaced by Rui Hachimura as a starter.

Reaves has embraced the challenge of guarding elite players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who is known for his scoring prowess. In a recent game against the Thunder, Reaves played a key role in limiting Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive impact, holding him to 20 points on 5-for-13 shooting.

LeBron James praised Reaves for his defensive performance, highlighting his ability to stay attached to Gilgeous-Alexander and make him take tough shots. Reaves displayed good anticipation and footwork, disrupting Gilgeous-Alexander’s drives and limiting his scoring opportunities.

“He just took the challenge,” Lakers star LeBron James said of Reaves. “Obviously, Shai is one of the best players that we have in our league, so it’s just trying not to put him at the free-throw line because that’s where he gets a lot of his points from too.

“Austin was sensational from the start to the finish, whenever he was out on the floor just trying to play the ball and making Shai and making [Jalen Williams] take tough shots and we’d just try to protect him on the backend.”

While Reaves may not completely shut down top-tier scorers like Gilgeous-Alexander, his defensive efforts make it challenging for them to get into their rhythm and score efficiently. Anthony Davis also commended Reaves for his defensive awareness and ability to prevent Gilgeous-Alexander from drawing fouls and getting to his preferred spots on the court.

Reaves has also been tasked with guarding other notable players in recent games, including Jamal Murray, James Harden, Devin Booker, and Steph Curry. His versatility and willingness to take on tough defensive assignments have been crucial for the Lakers as they aim to improve their defensive presence on the court.

Overall, Reaves’ defensive contributions have been instrumental for the Lakers, and he continues to embrace the challenge of being a two-way player in their lineup. Head coach Darvin Ham emphasizes the importance of setting a defensive tone, and Reaves has been a key contributor in fulfilling that role for the team.