Lakers Lose Star Guard Reaves for Regular Season

Injury crisis deepens for struggling LA team as key player sidelined.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:00am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball player in mid-motion, with their form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of deep purple, royal blue, and metallic gold, conveying the fragmented nature of the Lakers' injury crisis.The Lakers' injury woes continue as they lose star guard Austin Reaves for the remainder of the regular season.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers have suffered another major setback, with confirmation that star guard Austin Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season due to a muscle injury. This latest injury blow comes as the Lakers continue to struggle with an ongoing injury crisis that has plagued the team throughout the season.

Why it matters

The Lakers have had a disappointing season so far, sitting outside the playoff positions. Losing Reaves, one of their most consistent performers, is a significant blow as they fight to turn their season around and secure a postseason berth.

The details

Reaves, 24, has been a bright spot for the Lakers this season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He suffered the muscle injury during the team's loss to the Clippers on April 3rd. An MRI scan revealed the extent of the damage, ruling Reaves out for the final weeks of the regular season.

  • Reaves was injured during the Lakers' loss to the Clippers on April 3, 2026.
  • The Lakers announced Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season on April 5, 2026.

The players

Austin Reaves

A 24-year-old guard who has been a consistent performer for the Lakers this season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

Los Angeles Lakers

The professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California that plays in the NBA.

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What they’re saying

“Losing Austin is a big blow for us, but we'll have to find a way to overcome this and keep fighting to make the playoffs.”

— Darvin Ham, Head Coach, Los Angeles Lakers

What’s next

The Lakers will have to adjust their rotations and playing style without Reaves in the lineup for the remainder of the regular season. They currently sit 11th in the Western Conference standings, and will need to make a strong push to climb into the playoff positions.

The takeaway

The Lakers' injury crisis has been a major factor in their disappointing season so far, and the loss of Reaves is another significant setback as they fight to turn things around and secure a postseason berth. The team will need to find a way to overcome this challenge and rally together to finish the season strongly.