When the Lakers lost LeBron James to a groin injury, there were major concerns about their ability to stay afloat in his absence. They even faced three straight defeats on the road while he was sidelined. But those initial doubts did not last long because the LA team found someone to count on who could make up for LBJ’s unavailability–Austin Reaves!

Yes, AR is gradually turning into a star right before our eyes. In his last five appearances, the young guard has averaged a whopping 29 points and over seven assists. He has been the perfect partner for Luka Doncic and led the Lakers to three straight wins at home. However, the LA team will have to find a way to win without him tonight because Reaves has been ruled out for the Bucks clash. Reason? A right ankle sprain.

Of course, the Purple & Gold have had a grueling schedule recently, tonight being their sixth game in eight days with three consecutive sets of back-to-backs. It has surely taken a toll on the players’ bodies, as is evident from Austin Reaves’s status. Moreover, his injury is just the tip of the iceberg. Even Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle) and Jarred Vanderbilt (right groin) are at risk of missing tonight’s game as they are listed as doubtful.

Adding to the concerns, Doncic will also rest to manage his right ankle sprain. Not surprisingly, LeBron and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined as they are still recovering from their respective injuries. This hefty injury report leaves the Lakers extremely shorthanded against the Bucks. Moreover, with Reaves, Luka, and LeBron out, they do not have a primary scorer to rely on.

It’s highly likely that the onus will fall on rookie Dalton Knecht to lead the charge and pull off a miraculous win. He is averaging 9.6 points but has had occasional scoring bursts when needed. But the Reaves’ blow is a tough one for the team.

Austin Reaves’ rise to stardom has left Luka Doncic and LeBron James in awe

Well, AR has shown consistent year-on-year improvement since starting his career with the Lakers. But he has taken it to another level this year. To everybody’s surprise, he has turned into the third superstar alongside Luka and LeBron, averaging 19.6 points and six assists. And his rise to stardom has even left his teammates in awe.

After Reaves dropped a 30-piece against the Spurs on Monday, Doncic could not stop praising him post-game, “This guy just scored 30 points in his fourth game in five days… He’s an amazing player. For him to go undrafted is unbelievable.” Yes, to think that thirty teams passed up on Reaves seems insane after witnessing his growth in LA. Luka continued, “It’s not easy to go undrafted and play at this level.”

Even ‘King James’ has turned into a Reaves fan, which was evident from his viral reaction last night. During his 22-point performance, AR pulled off a double crossover move to beat Nuggets’ Spencer Jones, finishing with an incredible lob to Christian Koloko. But what caught everyone’s attention was LeBron and Bronny’s reaction on the sidelines as they began imitating Reaves’ move, creating a wholesome father-son moment. Just proves how much Austin Reaves’ presence has boosted the Lakers’ energy.

Hopefully, JJ Redick will find a way to function without him tonight and end this grueling Lakers’ schedule with another win. Do you think he can do it despite missing multiple key stars?