Last season was a revelation for Austin Reeves, and it was a revelation for the Los Angeles Lakers as they realized he was more than just a useful player.
His ability has improved over time, which earned him a starting job in March, not to mention a very strong performance in the playoffs. It’s normal for young players to see their numbers drop in their first postseason, but for Reeves, his numbers actually went up.
A recent report from The Ringer revealed the game and the moment Reeves realized LeBron James and the rest of his teammates and coaching staff trusted him to make big decisions and take shots on the court.
Via Ringtone:
“Reeves thought about how far he could progress playing with James and (Anthony) Davis,” Mirin Fader said of Reeves remaining as a free agent this summer. the Lakers wrote at the time of their decision. “He thought about how much head coach Davon Hamm believed in him and how much his teammates believed in him in the playoffs, giving him the ball in critical moments. In one game, against Memphis, In the first game of the game, when James caught the pass, he ran to the corner. James told him to come back and get the ball. Reeves didn’t understand: Why should James give up the ball when he could pass anyone at any time? What for him? “My brain left the game for a moment,” Reeves said. Then he thought: I can’t make him look stupid. I’ve got to make something good happen. Muscle memory kicked in, and he made a series of basket.”
One of the hallmarks of effective leadership is the delegation of ownership to those who deserve a greater role. Reeves was one of the players in the playoff opener against the Memphis Grizzlies in April.
The Lakers maintained a slim lead in the fourth quarter. Reeves scored 14 points in the quarter, including four points in the last 3 minutes and 29 seconds, and finally sealed the victory 128-112. It was his viral “I am him!” moment that announced to the basketball world that he had truly arrived.