Something that was elevated after JJ Redick’s Lakers‘ hire was the anticipation of Austin Reaves’ role on the side. Last season, the Hillbilly Kobe worked his way up as a starter after a promising stint as a role player. Amid this positive equation in the Purple and Gold ranks, the young guard had a minor ankle injury that kept him out of the last preseason game. The question is, will Redick take the risk of bringing AR back to the starting lineup for the much-decorated outing against the Warriors in Las Vegas?

Well, there isn’t any clarity on Austin Reaves’ return as a starter, but JJ didn’t rule him out either. As per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the star coach has categorized the guard as day-to-day. Notably, the team listed him out for the game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sore ankle. McMenamin’s update also revealed that the guard had a non-contact portion of Saturday’s practice in a brace.

Even though it’s a minor injury, the LA Lakers can’t take the risk in a preseason game, considering Austin Reaves’ importance in the team’s offense. Last season, he played 82 games and recorded 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.

While everyone expects the guard to increase his numbers in the upcoming season, sitting out for a preseason game wouldn’t really harm anyone. Especially with a team like the Purple and Gold known for its list of injuries at the most crucial times. In the previous season, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Christian Wood almost missed half of the campaign with injuries.

If not for everyone, at least JJ Redick expects Austin Reaves to shine in the coming months. Speaking of the rising star, the coach said, “We hope there’s not a dip in efficiency. If anything, I would expect there to be an increase.” So, looking at the importance that JJ Redick has vested on AR, it’s safe to say that the star rookie coach will protect him from aggravating his ankle injury.

Who sowed the seeds for ‘the Austin Reaves elevation’?

Well, let’s just make one thing clear: Reaves doesn’t necessarily need anyone to elevate his game or career. The guard has done it for himself with his consistent performance alongside greats like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But, AR did have someone who lit up and fueled the anticipation ahead of the upcoming season. It’s none other than his agent, Aaron Reilly.

When JJ Redick came into the Lakers fold, in his first-ever media interaction, two words took center stage. ‘Player Development’. The 40-year-old made his plan very clear. He wanted to build a championship-winning roster from scratch, focusing on development first.

So, automatically, the attention went to Austin Reaves, as the 3rd year hooper has developed himself into a starter in a short span of time. Amid this situation, Reilly made an expansive statement. He said, “This coach is about to show a different part of Austin’s game that none of you have seen. Kept receipts on all that third superstar b——t. Great hire for LA – going to be a big year next season.”

And, that’s it, with D’Angelo Russell already on the side, Aaron Reilly stirred up the Lakers Nation with his ‘third superstar’ comment. Nevertheless, we have to wait until the start of the season to know further developments in the narrative. For now, this is the role that JJ intends Reaves to play: “he’s been fully committed to paint 2s, 3s and free throws.”

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.