The Los Angeles Lakers will miss Austin Reaves for at least a week due to a mild left calf strain. Reaves, the ninth-leading scorer in the NBA this season, has been averaging 27.8 points per game. His impressive performance has made him a star in his five years with the Lakers.
Reaves' absence comes as the Lakers have started strong with a 17-7 record, despite injuries affecting their top players. LeBron James missed the first 14 games of his 23rd NBA season due to sciatica. Luka Doncic also missed six games for minor injuries and personal reasons.
With Reaves out, Marcus Jonesm, Jake LaRavia, and Gabe Vincent are expected to get more playing time. The Lakers' next match is against Phoenix on Sunday, followed by a game against Utah on Thursday.
This schedule gives them some time to adjust without Reaves.
Reaves has been contributing career highs in assists and rebounds, with averages of 6.7 and 5.6 per game respectively. He has formed an effective backcourt partnership with Luka Doncic, who leads the league with 35 points per game.
Austin Reaves has a mild left calf strain, per the Lakers. Will be reevaluated in approximately one week. Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 12, 2025
Earlier this season, Reaves missed three games as well. Despite these challenges, he continues to gain All-Star attention for his performances this year. His journey from an undrafted free agent to a key player highlights his significant development over time.
The Lakers will need to adapt quickly to maintain their momentum without Reaves' contributions on the court. His return will be reassessed after one week as they aim to keep their strong start going.
