He wasn't supposed to be here. Seriously. Most guys who go undrafted in the NBA end up playing in Lithuania or selling real estate within three years. But Austin Reaves is currently staring down the barrel of a legitimate All-Star selection, and it's making a lot of basketball purists extremely uncomfortable.
The Austin Reaves All Star conversation is basically the ultimate litmus test for how you view the modern NBA. Is he a product of the "Laker bump" and a massive fan base? Or is he actually putting up numbers that demand respect regardless of the jersey he wears? Honestly, if you look at the 2025-26 season stats, the "role player" label just doesn't fit anymore.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
Let's get the "empty stats" argument out of the way first. People love to say he's only scoring because LeBron James and Luka Doncic (who joined the Lakers in a blockbuster move that still feels like a fever dream) have missed time. But you don't just "accidentally" drop 51 points against the Kings.
Earlier this season, Reaves went nuclear in Sacramento, finishing with 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. That's not a "good night for a role player." That's a superstar stat line.
- Scoring: He’s been hovering around 27.8 points per game for a huge chunk of the season.
- Efficiency: We’re talking about a guy flirting with 50/40/90 shooting splits while being the primary target for opposing defenses.
- Playmaking: He's averaging nearly 7 assists per game, proving he can run the point when the Lakers' stars are catching their breath.
The reality is that Reaves has transitioned from a secondary playmaker to a guy who can legitimately carry an offense for 48 minutes. JJ Redick, who’s been steering the ship as head coach, apparently told Reaves on day one that he was going to be an All-Star. Redick isn't exactly known for handing out participation trophies, so that vote of confidence carries some weight.
📖 Related: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
The Popularity Contest vs. The Media Vote
We have to talk about the fan voting because it’s always a mess. In the first 2026 All-Star fan vote returns, Reaves was sitting at 10th among Western Conference guards with over 400,000 votes. By the second update, he slipped to 11th, getting jumped by Alperen Sengun of the Rockets.
Here’s where it gets tricky for the Austin Reaves All Star bid: the fans love him, but the media and players are usually more skeptical.
To actually make the team, you have to survive the 50/25/25 split (Fans/Players/Media). Last year, we saw players like Devin Booker and Julius Randle leapfrog guys who had more fan support because the "experts" didn't think the fan favorites were quite elite enough. If Reaves wants to play in the Intuit Dome this February, he’s going to need the coaches to pick him as a reserve.
The Injury Question
Just when the momentum was peaking, the "Lakers luck" struck. Reaves went down with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain—a calf injury—right around Christmas 2025.
👉 See also: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
He’s expected to be out for about four weeks. In the world of All-Star campaigning, that is a disaster. If you aren't on the court in January when the final votes are being cast, people tend to forget how dominant you were in November. The "availability" argument is the easiest way for coaches to justify picking a "legacy" star like Steph Curry or a healthy young gun over someone like Reaves who’s watching from the sidelines.
Is He Actually Better Than the Competition?
The Western Conference is a bloodbath. You’ve got Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steph Curry, and Anthony Edwards. Those four are basically locks. That leaves very few spots for everyone else.
Is Austin Reaves better than Devin Booker? Probably not in a vacuum. Is he more impactful this season than Ja Morant or De'Aaron Fox? That's where the debate gets heated. Fans on Reddit have been arguing that his "Win Shares per 48 minutes" and "Box Plus-Minus" stats put him in the top 15 of the entire league. If you value advanced analytics, Reaves is a no-brainer. If you value "hoop aesthetics" and name recognition, he’s still the "Hillbilly Kobe" trying to crash a VIP party.
Why the "Lakers Bias" Argument is Half-True
Yes, being a Laker helps. If Austin Reaves was doing this in Charlotte or Detroit, he’d still be a "Most Improved Player" candidate, but he wouldn't be a household name. However, the pressure of playing in LA is a real thing. Most players crumble under the Bright Lights™. Reaves seems to thrive on it. He’s taking—and making—the shots that usually belong to LeBron.
✨ Don't miss: Huskers vs Michigan State: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big Ten Rivalry
Actionable Insights for the All-Star Race
If you're following the Austin Reaves All Star saga, keep an eye on these specific triggers over the next few weeks:
- The Return Date: If he comes back before the end of January and has one more "50-point" statement game, he could steal a reserve spot.
- Lakers Record: If the Lakers stay in the top 4 of the West without him, critics will say he’s replaceable. If they slide, it actually proves his All-Star value.
- Coach's Picks: Watch the interviews with Western Conference coaches. They are the ones who decide the bench. If they start praising his "winning plays" and "basketball IQ," he's in.
Ultimately, whether he makes the roster or not, the fact that we're even having a serious 2,000-word debate about an undrafted kid from Arkansas becoming an All-Star is a win for him. He’s already secured the bag—insiders expect him to decline his player option and look for a $30M+ per year contract in 2026. All-Star or not, Austin Reaves has already arrived.
Keep a close eye on the final voting results released in late January. The shift in the NBA's new "U.S. vs. World" format for 2026 might also play a role in how many guards from the West actually make the cut, as the league is experimenting with a round-robin style tournament at the Intuit Dome.