After Los Angeles Lakers star guard Austin Reaves scored a game-high 38 points in Friday night’s 129-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the 27-year-old decided to swap jerseys with former teammate Anthony Davis.
Austin Reaves Praises Anthony Davis
Speaking to reporters after the win, Reaves praised Davis as one of the greatest players in NBA history, adding that he “owes him a lot” for their four seasons as teammates:
“He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball. I don’t know why he wanted my jersey, but for me to get his, it’s pretty fun. … I got a lot of love for AD. He’s a big reason that [I am] where I’m at right now. From day one, he was telling me to be myself, don’t be anybody else. Continue to work and really, just be myself on the court. So I owe him a lot.”
Lakers fans gave Davis a loud applause when his name was called during pregame introductions. Friday’s game marked Davis’ first appearance since Oct. 29 due to a left calf strain.
“I mean, he’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball. So, I don’t know why he wanted my jersey. But for me to get his, is pretty fun.” – Austin Reaves on exchanging uniforms with Anthony Davis after the game tonight pic.twitter.com/Ht9aevb4uk
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 29, 2025
Davis was also playing in his first game in Los Angeles since being traded to Dallas in February.
Since Davis played Friday night, the 32-year-old will not play Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, as the Mavs continue to take a cautious approach with him.
The 10-time All-Star had 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 28 minutes. He finished 6-of-10 (60%) shooting and didn’t attempt a free throw.
“We weren’t really trying to force anything,” Davis said. “They were kind of double-teaming every time I caught the ball. As soon as I catch it and turn around, it was two guys in my face. I was just trying to make the right play with the pass. The shots [will] come to me when I have an opportunity to score, but the rhythm’s going to get there.”
Reaves Having Breakout Year With Lakers
Reaves, meanwhile, scored 38 points on 12-of-15 (80%) shooting from the field and 6-for-8 (75%) from beyond the arc. It was his fifth game this season with at least 30 points.
Through 15 appearances (all starts) this season, Reaves is averaging career highs of 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 36.6 minutes per contest with a shooting line of 51.6/34.8/87.9.
Reaves, 27, ranks 17th in the league in points (428), 20th in assists (450), sixth in free throws (124), sixth in win shares (2.7), and ninth in offensive box plus/minus (5.9).
Friday night’s win was the Lakers’ sixth consecutive victory. They also swept four games of NBA Cup group play, earning a home quarterfinal. Dallas, however, lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Lakers improved to 14-4 to maintain the second spot in the Western Conference behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (19-1), while the Mavs dropped to 5-15 and near the bottom of the conference standings.
