The 2025-26 NBA season will be Luka Dončić's first full season with the historic Lakers. It could also be LeBron James' final season in Los Angeles. These are the two main storylines for the Lakers heading into the new season, but this season could also be the one in which Austin Reeves finally adds All-Star honors to his resume.
Reeves' path to an All-Star appearance isn't without potential obstacles. Specifically, there are questions about how effectively he'll pair with Dončić, and he'll still have to share the ball with the team's two superstars. It's also worth noting that the Western Conference has no shortage of talented guards.
However, when we examine Reeves' career progress thus far and weigh other factors, he's likely to be an All-Star in his fifth NBA season. Here are five reasons why.
1. Reeves' steady improvement shows no signs of stopping.
Not every player can demonstrate linear improvement season after season, but Reeves has so far. Amazingly, his assist and point averages have increased with each season he's been in the league.
In 73 games for the Lakers last season, he averaged over 20 points and over 5 assists per game, further establishing himself as a dangerous offensive player. In the 2024-25 season, Reeves is one of only 23 players in the NBA (among those who have appeared in at least 40 games) to meet those standards.
If Reeves continues his steady offensive growth, he will put up All-Star-caliber numbers as a scorer and playmaker, and a strong possibility of earning an All-Star selection in the 2025-26 season.
2. The Lakers Could Be Off to a Strong Start
The Lakers' roster looks a bit different than last season. Dorian Finney-Smith is no longer a member of the team, but players like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart will provide some fresh blood.
Here's an optimistic look at what that might mean.
With a fresh roster, the Lakers are poised for a hot start to the new season and will establish themselves as one of the best teams in the Western Conference from the outset.
By January, this team will be firmly in the top two spots in the Western Conference, and with their strong performance leading up to the All-Star festivities, several players on the team, such as Reeves, will receive significant attention in the All-Star voting process.
With Reeves, James, and Dončić all making the All-Star Game, both individually and as a team, they will be incredibly powerful. This will also be the first time since the 1997-98 season that more than two Lakers players will participate in the All-Star Game.
3. Reeves has a chance to combine high scoring with high efficiency.
Finding the right balance of high scoring and high efficiency while maintaining a high usage rate is no easy feat for a player, but it's precisely what many of the league's top talents have achieved.
Reeves has already demonstrated his ability to be highly efficient (see his second season in the league) and clearly has the ability to average over 20 points per game (see last season). Now, it's time to put it all together.
The optimistic scenario: In his fifth NBA season, Reeves finds balance, averaging a career-high in points and shooting with perimeter accuracy that would put even Stephen Curry to shame.
Reeves averages at least 22 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range, with his three-point percentage ranking among the league leaders for most of the season.
4. After last season's run-in, the synergy between Reeves and Dončić will become apparent.
From Dončić's trade to the Lakers last season until the start of the 2025 NBA playoffs, Reeves didn't have much time to adjust to playing alongside the Slovenian star in the starting backcourt.
However, now that Reeves has gotten accustomed to sharing the court with the perennial MVP contender in the latter half of the 2024-25 season, they should have a solid foundation for chemistry going into the upcoming season.
Hopefully, Dončić and Reeves will prove to be an ideal backcourt combination in the Lakers' starting lineup and become one of the best offensive backcourt duos in the league by the 2025-26 season. Furthermore, Smart can mask their defensive shortcomings, making their defensive vulnerabilities less apparent than they were last season.
A full season alongside an offensive player of Dončić's caliber will help Reeves elevate his game to new heights and earn him an All-Star selection alongside the 26-year-old star.
5. Injury Wave Could Hit
Ultimately, even if Reeves meets some of the aforementioned criteria, it still might not be enough to make him an All-Star, given the abundance of talented guards in the Western Conference.
No one wants injuries, but if Reeves doesn't initially make the All-Star Game, he could be a reserve selection if the injury wave hits the West.
Given the injuries suffered by so many star players last season, it's not impossible that some of the league's top guards could suffer an injury wave around the All-Star break.
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