Austin Reaves’ recent scoring outburst has caught the attention of Luka Doncic, who had high praise for the Los Angeles Lakers guard.
Speaking about Reaves’ production, Doncic highlighted the difficulty of maintaining such performances, especially for an undrafted player.
“I mean, this guy just scored 30 in his four games in five days, and that explains everything,” Doncic said, per Ryan Ward. “He’s an amazing player. For him to go undrafted is unbelievable. It’s not easy to go undrafted and then play at this level. It’s amazing just to be by his side.”
Reaves, 26, is averaging 19.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 34.6 minutes per game this season. His offensive impact has been crucial, particularly with LeBron James sidelined due to injury.
In the Lakers’ 125-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Reaves led all scorers with 30 points, marking his fourth straight game with at least 28 points. Before this stretch, he had reached that mark just four times in the Lakers’ first 63 contests.
Doncic, who finished with 21 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds in the victory, also acknowledged Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht’s potential.
“I mean, he had a great game. He had a lot of great games,” Doncic said. “He’s learning how to play, I’m learning how to play with him. And he’s a promising rookie for sure.”
Knecht, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is averaging 9.5 points and three rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. His development has provided Los Angeles with another offensive option as they push for playoff positioning.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 42-25, holding the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They have now won eight straight home games and will look to carry that momentum into a tough matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic acknowledged the challenge ahead, particularly against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. “Look, I think the team that has Jokic on [it] is always dangerous,” Doncic said. “With him on the court, there’s always danger, and it’s hard to play against him. He knows all the tricks. He’s an amazing basketball player. But that’s fun. That’s fun for us. That’s a challenge for us, and it’s fun. We like challenges, and I think it’s going to be a great game.”
The Lakers will aim to extend their winning streak when they take on Denver, while Reaves continues to solidify his role as a key contributor in Los Angeles.
