With a 115-107 win vs. the Nuggets on Tuesday, the Lakers are 26-16 this season. As of Wednesday, January 21, they are fifth in the Western Conference.Â
Los Angeles has been without SG Austin Reaves in their last 13 consecutive games. The 27-year-old has been out due to a calf injury he suffered on Christmas Day. Ahead of their matchup vs. Denver on Tuesday, head coach JJ Redick said Reaves is “progressing well” and will return at some point on the Lakers’ eight-game road trip.
Austin Reaves is on the verge of returning for Los Angeles
🚨 JJ Redick says Austin Reaves will return at some point during the Lakers 8-game road trip pic.twitter.com/ZcrutUXlyl
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 21, 2026
Every player’s path to the NBA is different, and that was true for Austin Reaves. After four years in college, Reaves went undrafted in 2021 out of Oklahoma. However, that was by his choice. Austin Reaves had the opportunity to be picked 42nd in the 2021 draft by the Pistons. Instead, Reaves chose to bet on himself. He also knew the Los Angeles Lakers had interest in him. Reaves joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal.
Eventually, he worked his way to a standard NBA deal and has become a key piece of the Lakers’ roster. In 2024-25, Austin Reaves made a career-high 73 starts for Los Angeles. Additionally, he averaged 20+ points for the first time in his career. However, Reaves took his offensive production to another level in 2025-26. In his 23 games and 22 starts, Reaves is averaging a career-high 26.6 points per game.
Redick: Austin Reaves (calf) will return sometime on Lakers' 8-game road trip.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 21, 2026
Unfortunately, the 27-year-old has missed the last 13 consecutive games due to a calf strain. Initial reports said that Austin Reaves would miss at least for weeks for the Lakers. Ahead of their game on Tuesday vs. Denver, Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave a positive injury update for Reaves. He said the SG will return at some point on the Lakers’ eight-game road trip. Their first game was Tuesday night vs. the Nuggets.
They end the road trip on Tuesday, February 3, in Brooklyn. That means Austin Reaves will return sometime in the next seven games after Tuesday’s win vs. the Nuggets. Austin Reaves’ production will be a much-needed boost for the Lakers. His 16.2 field goal attempts per game is the highest of his career in 2025-26.
Reaves had a strong start to the year when LeBron James missed the first 14 games. Can Los Angeles have three players scoring 20+ points on a nightly basis? Luka Doncic leads the NBA with 33.5 points per game. Before his injury, Reaves was averaging 26.6, and LeBron James is at 22.2 per game. Are those numbers sustainable for Los Angeles?
