It’s getting weird in Los Angeles. If you’ve been watching the Lakers lately, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Austin Reaves, the guy who basically grew up from an undrafted afterthought into the heartbeat of the team, is currently the center of a storm he didn't even start.
The conversation around Austin Reaves last 10 games isn’t just about box scores anymore. It’s about a calf strain, a massive usage spike, and a looming trade deadline that has Rich Paul throwing public "what-if" scenarios into the ether.
Honestly, the numbers are kind of staggering. Before he went down with that left calf injury in late December, Reaves was playing the best basketball of his life. We're talking about a guy who averaged 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on the season. But those last 10 appearances? That's where the real story lives.
Breaking Down the Scoring Explosion
When you look at the raw data for Austin Reaves last 10 games, the volume is what jumps out. He wasn't just "participating" in the offense; he was the engine.
Take that December 4th game against Toronto. Reaves went nuclear for 44 points and 10 assists. You don't just stumble into a 40-and-10 night in the NBA. He was living at the free-throw line, going 13-of-15, which has become his signature. People call him "Hillbilly Kobe" as a joke, but the way he manipulates defenders to get to the stripe is legitimately elite.
The stretch was a roller coaster of high-usage brilliance:
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- He dropped 38 on Dallas in late November.
- He hung 36 on the Celtics in a high-stakes rivalry game.
- He cleared the 30-point mark four times in that 10-game window.
But it wasn't all sunshine. The efficiency took a weird dip toward the end. In his final two games before the injury—the Phoenix and Houston matchups—he looked human. He only played 15 minutes against Houston on Christmas Day before the calf really flared up, finishing with 12 points. It’s a bummer because he was on an All-Star trajectory that most experts, including Richard Jefferson, were starting to debate seriously.
The Injury Factor and the Luka Connection
The timing of this calf strain is basically a nightmare for Lakers fans. Since Reaves has been out, the team has stayed afloat (8-5 in that span), but the vibe is different. Luka Doncic is doing Luka things—averaging 33-plus points—and LeBron James is still defies aging, but the "connective tissue" is missing.
That’s why the trade rumors are getting so loud. Rich Paul recently mentioned that if the Lakers want to build a real contender around Luka and LeBron, Austin Reaves might be the "price" they have to pay. It’s a tough pill to swallow. Paul even floated Memphis as a spot where Austin could be a primary point guard and leading scorer.
The stats from Austin Reaves last 10 games prove he can handle that load. He was sporting a 29% usage rate. For context, that’s usually reserved for "franchise" guys.
Why the Shooting Percentages Matter
There’s a segment of NBA Twitter that thinks Reaves is a "fluctuating" shooter. I don't really buy that. Over his last 10, he shot about 46.4% from the floor and 44.8% from three. Those are winning numbers.
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The drop-off in his last four games—where he struggled to hit 20% in one night against Philly—was clearly an outlier or a byproduct of him playing through the early stages of that calf strain. When he’s healthy, he’s a 50/40/90 threat. He even passed Kobe Bryant for the second-most three-pointers in a single season in Lakers history last year. The pedigree is there.
What This Means for Your Fantasy Team (and the Lakers)
If you're holding Austin Reaves in fantasy, you're probably pulling your hair out. He’s been out for a while now, and with the Lakers being cryptic about the return date, it's a waiting game.
The actionable insight here is pretty simple: look at the usage. When he comes back, he isn't going to be a "third option" anymore. The way he played in late November and early December showed he’s a primary creator. Even with Luka on the floor, Reaves finds ways to get his.
Wait for the trade deadline. That’s the big one. If Reaves gets moved to a team like Memphis or even Charlotte (who they just played), his value triples. He’d go from being a very good Laker to a potential 28-point-per-game alpha on a rebuilding squad.
Real Talk on the Defensive End
We have to be honest: the defense is the question mark. While his offensive stats in Austin Reaves last 10 games were elite, the Lakers' net rating didn't always reflect it. He’s a smart defender, but he isn't an "anchor."
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This is the "Austin Reaves Problem" that analysts keep talking about. He’s so good offensively that you have to play him 36 minutes, but can you win a title if he’s your best perimeter defender next to an aging LeBron? Probably not. That’s why names like Jaren Jackson Jr. are being linked to the Lakers in potential Reaves deals.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
The next step is watching his "minutes restriction" when he returns. Don't expect 40 minutes and 30 points on night one. The Lakers need him healthy for the playoff push, especially since they're currently sitting in that 5th seed range in a brutal Western Conference.
If you’re a bettor or a fan, keep an eye on his free throw attempts. That is the barometer for his health. If Reaves is attacking the rim and getting 8+ whistles, his calf is fine. If he’s settling for contested threes, he’s still hurting.
Keep your eyes on the Feburary trade deadline. Whether he’s in Purple and Gold or something else, the way he played over that 10-game stretch changed the trajectory of his career. He’s no longer just a "nice story." He’s a blue-chip asset.