It’s hardly a secret that Austin Reaves has been on a tear with the Lakers in his fourth year, but his latest streak has him on par with a franchise cornerstone.
Austin Reaves Joins Lakers Legend with Latest Scoring Feat
Reaves’ Scoring Streak Reaches Kobe Level
With a 20-point outing against the Clippers Tuesday night, Reaves notched his 28th consecutive game scoring in double figures. The only other Lakers to hit that mark? Jordan Clarkson during the 2015-16 season and the late great Kobe Bryant in 2012-13.
Lakers guards to score 10+ points in at least 25 consecutive games in the 21st century:
Austin Reaves (28 games, active)
Jordan Clarkson (27 games, 2015-16)
Kobe Bryant (too many times to count)That's it. pic.twitter.com/2dFOxfOObh
— Extra Muse (@extra_muse) February 5, 2025
Kobe’s streak started on Oct. 30, 2012, when he scored 22 points against the Mavericks in LA’s first game of the season. The tear saw Bryant go off for 21 30-point performances, including four 40-point games. Kobe’s remarkable stretch lasted 52 games and ended on Feb. 12, 2013, when he finished with four points against the Phoenix Suns.
While Reaves’ scoring run pales in comparison to Bryant’s, it’s still a unique achievement for the 26-year-old guard. His streak began on Nov. 23, 2024, when he had 19 points on 7/13 shooting against Denver. That came after a nine-point performance against the Orlando Magic just two days prior. While there’s no telling how long Reaves’ streak will last—or if it will even come close to Bryant’s—his ability to put the ball in the basket as a third option is crucial for the Lakers, especially now.
Austin Reaves Next to Luka Doncic
With Luka Doncic‘s arrival in LA, many have wondered how he’ll fit alongside not only LeBron James but also Reaves, who took on the starting point guard role after D’Angelo Russell was traded back to Brooklyn.
The 26-year-old discussed how he can fit in with James and Doncic during a postgame press conference.
“[James and Doncic are] unselfish basketball players that play the game the right way [and] love to see their teammates have success,” Reaves said. “And I think it’s gonna help me in a lot of ways to be a second side playmaker, create more second-side close out situations, where I can attack the close out and make a play on that third side. But yeah, I can’t wait to see what that looks like on the court together. I’m very excited about that.”
Reaves has already showcased an ability to thrive as a two guard who can rack up points everywhere, so it’s likely he reverts to that role going forward. Last season, when Reaves spent 60% of his minutes at shooting guard, he averaged 15.9 points per game on .486/.367/.853 splits. This year, as a combo guard, Reaves has averaged a career-high 18.4 points while shooting .451/.372/.845 splits. His shift to a facilitating role has also led to a career-high 6.2 assists per game.
Reaves’ ability to both score and make plays bodes well next to LeBron and Luka, two elite ball-dominant players. AR not only gives the Lakers even more of a scoring boost, but also someone who can create for others and keep plays alive. And while some have posited Reaves could be out the door next, his skill set and growth fit the Lakers’ timeline perfectly, and he’s part of an ideal bridge between LA’s present and future.
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