Lakers' Austin Reaves Joins Elite Scoring Club

Young guard on pace for historic efficiency season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:38pm

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The Los Angeles Lakers secured a crucial 127-125 victory over the Denver Nuggets, led by a standout performance from rising star Austin Reaves. Reaves scored 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The 24-year-old guard is on pace to become only the third player in NBA history to average 20+ points per game while maintaining a true shooting percentage of 65% or higher, joining Stephen Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in this exclusive club.

Why it matters

Reaves' remarkable efficiency and all-around production have made him a key part of the Lakers' core, as they look to build around the young guard alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. With James potentially becoming a free agent after next season, Reaves is poised to take on an even larger role and become the clear-cut second option for the Lakers.

The details

In the Lakers' recent win over the Nuggets, Reaves scored 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting, with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. This performance is part of a standout season for the 24-year-old, who is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Reaves' true shooting percentage of 65.4% puts him on pace to join an exclusive club of just two other guards - Stephen Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - to average 20+ points per game on 65%+ true shooting in a single season.

  • Reaves is on pace to achieve this historic efficiency mark by the end of the 2022-23 NBA season.

The players

Austin Reaves

A 24-year-old guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who is emerging as a key part of the team's core and is on the verge of joining an exclusive club of historically efficient scorers.

LeBron James

The veteran superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers who could become a free agent after the 2025-26 season, making Reaves' development crucial to the team's future.

Luka Doncic

The young superstar who plays alongside Reaves on the Lakers and will be a central part of the team's plans going forward.

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What they’re saying

“I endeavor not to think about it. Honestly. I've said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it. Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn't mean that I'm trying to move get a f—ing gigantic number that don't build sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don't try to think about those things.”

— Austin Reaves (ESPN)

What’s next

The Lakers are expected to offer Reaves a substantial five-year, $240 million contract extension this offseason, solidifying his place as a key part of the team's future.

The takeaway

Austin Reaves' emergence as a highly efficient scoring guard is a testament to the increasing value of well-rounded players in the NBA. His ability to contribute at a high level on both ends of the floor makes him an invaluable asset for the Lakers as they look to build a championship contender around LeBron James and Luka Doncic.