Austin Reaves emerged as a rising star following what seemed to be one other disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers. He performed an important function in main the Lakers, alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to the Western Conference Finals.
The solely time Reaves struggled was when he defended Stephen Curry within the Western Conference Semi-Finals. In a current look on the All The Smoke Podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Reaves expressed how defending Curry affected his recreation. He said that Steph moved so properly with out the ball that he might by no means calm down, consequently impacting his shotmaking.
“It’s honestly hell,” Reaves mentioned. “Just the way he moves without the ball. It’s honestly their system, too. It fits him to perfection. You literally can’t ever relax.I remember Game 1 and 2, chasing him and Klay around, and I couldn’t make a shot. Everybody’s looking at me like, ‘Why can’t you make a shot?’ I’m like ‘I ain’t got no legs.’”
You gotta be a marathon runner to examine Steph 😭
All new episode of #AllTheSmoke with Lakers sensation Austin Reaves DROPS TOMORROW on our YouTube.
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Darvin Ham thinks Austin Reaves might be an All-Star
This low season, the Lakers signed Austin Reaves to a team-friendly 4-year, $56 million contract after his breakout season. Despite going undrafted within the 2021 draft, Reaves signed a two-way cope with the Lakers and continued to develop his recreation, contributing considerably to the workforce’s success.
During the common season, Reaves was a useful affect function participant, averaging 13 factors, 3.4 assists, and three rebounds per recreation. However, he made a exceptional leap through the playoffs, changing into the Lakers’ third-best participant and averaging 16.8 factors, 4.6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, in the end serving to the Lakers attain the Western Conference Finals after a discouraging 2-10 begin.
In a current look on UNCUT with Chris B Haynes and Marc Stein, Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham praised Reaves and confidently predicted that he would ultimately turn into an All-Star. “I’m putting it on record right now, Austin Reaves will be an All-Star at some point soon,” Ham mentioned.
Reaves has undoubtedly turn into an thrilling participant to observe, and his journey serves as an inspiration for upcoming NBA gamers. Considering his spectacular efficiency in final season’s playoffs, it could be unbelievable to see him turn into an All-Star at some point.
