{"id":101020,"date":"2024-10-13T18:48:43","date_gmt":"2024-10-13T22:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=101020"},"modified":"2024-10-21T13:55:22","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T17:55:22","slug":"should-lakers-austin-reaves-sit-out-preseason-after-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/13\/should-lakers-austin-reaves-sit-out-preseason-after-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Lakers\u2019 Austin Reaves Sit Out Preseason After Injury?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves<\/a> has the chance to blossom in a way that he wasn\u2019t quite able to before.<\/p>\n

After going undrafted in 2021, Lakers former head coach Frank Vogel did give Reaves a chance that many wouldn\u2019t have. The Arkansas native played 23.2 minutes per game as a rookie. He even started in 19 games. His numbers \u20147.3 points and 1.8 assists per game on .459-.317-.839 shooting splits \u2014didn\u2019t jump off the page. His skillset did.<\/p>\n

When Darvin Ham was brought in as head coach, he didn\u2019t have to stick with Reaves. Reaves played admirably as a rookie, but wasn\u2019t what anyone could call irreplaceable. To Ham\u2019s credit, he did though, and all parties were rewarded for that.<\/p>\n

Reaves was sharper and more productive from then on. He played a major role in two playoff runs, looking more sure of himself than many of their veterans. Yet, his ceiling was capped. Because of the emphasis on players like LeBron James<\/a>, Anthony Davis<\/a>, D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/a> and even Dennis Schroder<\/a>, Reaves is typically the fourth option.<\/p>\n

Should Lakers\u2019 Fan Favorite Austin Reaves Sit Out Preseason After Injury?<\/h2>\n

With JJ Redick in place as head coach and presumably having big plans<\/a> for Reaves, he could see an expanded role. He just has to stay healthy, which he has not been able to thus far this preseason. The former Oklahoma standout is currently experiencing ankle soreness, per reporters (h\/t Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times).<\/p>\n

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Austin Reaves is day to day with a sore right ankle, JJ Redick says. He\u2019s going through a pretty strenuous individual training workout on the court right now. Looks like he had a brace on that ankle<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n