LeBron James Hails $13 Million Sleeper Guard's Meteoric Rise on Lakers While Revealing What Keeps Him Locked In

One of the biggest stories for the LA Lakers has been the rise of undrafted guard Austin Reaves. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds and assists. In the 20 games he's played in, Reaves has put up 28.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 6.7 apg, helping the team to a 17-6 record.

Not only have fans and critics noticed Reaves' growth, but his teammates have acknowledged it. On Tuesday's episode of LeBron James' "Mind the Game," the superstar revealed what led to his co-star's rise.

“Confidence, he’s also healthier this year then he was last year,” said James (Timestamp: 20:38). “And I know he kind of sat out a couple of games this year. But last year he was dealing with a toe issue late in the season. So he came into the season a lot healthier. But also just the confidence understanding that his role is going to continue to pick up.

“He’s not just one of the guys. He’s one of the guy on our team. He wants that responsibility. I think the coaching staff and JJ knew it wasn’t too far fetched to give him more responsibility and he’s just taken full advantage of it.”

The Lakers guard has had one of the best years of his career, while on a $13.9 million salary for the 2025-26 NBA season. The amount of work Reaves has put in early in the campaign could grant him a spot in the All-Star game. He also has the chance to command a bigger contract extension next summer.

If Reaves continues his All-Star level of play, LA might not have to look at the trade market for Luka Doncic's co-star.

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Lakers star's take on mastering the mid-range in the playoffs

During the regular season, teams tend to play faster, maximizing the open floor. Most teams also spend more time outside of the 3-point range, giving more space for players to operate and make shots from deep. However, things change in the postseason.

On LeBron James' latest podcast episode, a fan asked him if players need to master the mid-range in the playoffs.

“No, I don’t think you have to master the mid game to be a reliable first option,” the Lakers star said (Timestamp: 27:19). “But I do know that you cannot abandon the mid-range in the postseason… In the regular season, we want a lot of threes, layups, dunks, free throws. But when the playoffs happen and the lanes are even more packed, and you’re trying to manage the best shot that you can get.”

The Lakers star has appeared in the playoffs 21 times. With his experience, he knows what works on the floor, and not forgetting about the mid-range game is among those.