“It is on all of us to deliver a championship-level team. That is what I signed up for.” JJ Redick said in his Lakers’ introduction press conference in June 2024. Now, seven months and 81 games later, the first-time head coach can proudly hold his head high. With several eyes on him, critics tracking his every move, and nay-sayers ready with the narrative Redick delivered, what once seemed impossible at the start of the season. Yes, he has LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves doing it all for him on the court. Still, it wasn’t easy.

With fairly similar star power and role players, the Lakers have struggled in recent years. Since their last title win in 2020, the LA side struggled. The team’s best finish was 7th position (thrice) and worst, 11th (early wrap-up) in the 2021-22 season. There might be multiple reasons – injuries, team chemistry, close losses- but it was hard to see the purple and gold fighting for the postseason, especially with a megastar like LeBron James in the mix. But the 2024-25 season? Everything seems to be ironed out perfectly (not exactly, but comparatively) as the Lakers secure home court for the first round, finishing third in the West.

What was the big difference? Are Luka and AD switching teams? To some extent, yes. But you’ve got to play with the pieces you have in hand, and the Davis was part of the 2020 championship-winning side also. Improved role players? It can also be considered that the players post-2020 were as good as the current lot to some extent. Austin Reaves, who has front-row seat experience of this change, explains the exact reason.

Answering the possible trajectory, looking at the current Lakers’ run, Reaves said, “I feel like we can you know I feel like we can win a championship to be honest with you. And the reason of that is I know that everybody in that locker room believes that. And (it) is also bought into whatever your role is to help us do that. You could go you know, down the line of everybody in there and ask them you know, what their role is. They’ll tell you exactly what it is.”

Clarity in role and acting accordingly was a major change that helped the Lakers to make a push toward a title contender team. Getting one win with role clarity, then the next, the next, and then the change in locker-room environment following the winning streaks, just adds up to the thing. Reaves, knowing the importance of that, highlighted the role of the coaching staff in it. “That’s why I give this coaching staff a lot of credit, is that they come in and they planted their system and they held guys accountable to what they asked them to do. And everybody bought into that,” AR added.

While the four-year veteran is praising the coaching staff for the changes, he himself has developed into a star, capable of winning games for his side on his own. Constantly counted in the ‘new big three’ for the Lakers, Reaves is having a career-high season with 20.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. AR credits LeBron James for this.

Lauding LBJ’s infectious energy and high IQ, Reaves said, “Just being around him every single day, the joy that he brings to the team, like, I said he’s never in a bad mood. He’s always joking laughing, having a good time. And for him to you know welcome me from when I was on a two-way, the same way as he does today. It just meant a lot to me. And obviously you know being able to play along alongside him, just helped me grow every single day. so I owe him a lot for what he’s helped me accomplish”

AR highlighted how his ‘Kobe Love’ prevented him from being a huge ‘LeBron James fan’, though he respected LBJ. A few of his posts were “Dirk is too much for LeBron” During the 2011 finals. In April 2012, Reaves posted “When I need some peace and quiet, I set my phone to LeBron Mode: No Ring” teasing LeBron’s slightly bad patch. In May 2014, Reaves retweeted: “Kobe & MJ > LeBron. Just remember, we didn’t have to team up with 2 of the top 5 picks in our draft class along with the greatest 3-point shooter ever to finally win rings”

But now? Playing alongside LeBron, with young Bronny also added in the mix, changed the dynamics. AR’s love for James has grown significantly. He recently even mentioned that LBJ has nothing else to prove as he has achieved so much in his career. But how well will this love, team chemistry, and role clarity translate in the playoffs?

Can Austin Reaves’ resurgence win another title for the Lakers?

After 81 games, the grass is looking greener. But the real test starts on April 19 when the actual playoffs start. The Lakers, once a far-fetched name in the title run, are now one of the strong contenders for the title. Along with superstars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are seen as impact players in the lineup.

Reaves, in particular, has been a versatile and crucial player for the Lakers under JJ Redick. Austin Reaves’ strong performance and increased role could contribute significantly to the Lakers’ chances of winning another championship. His ability to play both on and off the ball, along with his high competitive drive, makes him a valuable asset for the team.

But Reaves thinks otherwise. Knowing the challenges ahead, he brings the whole team into the discussion. Talking to the press, he said, “Like I said, it’s going to be hard to stop us. But it’s not just me and LeBron, you know we have a great team around us, everybody helps us in so many ways. So, if we want to win the championship, it’s going to take all of us.”

Even though Reaves is looking to distribute the load, he is the key piece for the Lakers’ success in the postseason. His enhanced scoring and versatile skill sets have put the Lakers in a strong 3rd place finish in the regular season. It will be interesting to watch how he takes things further, riding high on confidence and current peak, just at the right time.