The Los Angeles Lakers have quietly crossed a line that changes everything — and Austin Reaves is the biggest beneficiary.

After years of steady growth and earned trust, the Lakers have finally granted Reaves the one thing he’s waited for his entire career: full offensive priority. With Luka Dončić entrenched as the No. 1 option, Reaves has officially become Los Angeles’ second scoring star, even ahead of LeBron James.

And the numbers say it all.

🌟 Austin Reaves’ Role Has Officially Changed

This isn’t a short-term experiment or a matchup-based tweak.

The Lakers have made a philosophical decision.

Reaves isn’t just a connector anymore. He isn’t the safety valve. He’s the go-to scorer when Luka needs help — and the offense is thriving because of it.

The franchise knows Reaves isn’t chasing individual accolades. But by empowering him this way, the Lakers are effectively turning him into a superstar.

👑 Reaves Has Passed LeBron in the Pecking Order

The shift is undeniable.

In the eight games LeBron James has played this season, the Lakers are 6–2 — and Reaves has taken more shots than LeBron in six of them.

The breakdown is stark:

• 124 field-goal attempts for Reaves
• 111 field-goal attempts for LeBron
• 58 free throws for Reaves
• 28 free throws for LeBron

That’s not accidental. That’s intentional.

At 40 years old, LeBron is leaning more on his jumper and conserving energy, averaging a career-low 16.5 points per game. And the Lakers are perfectly comfortable with that — because Reaves is ready to absorb the load.

📈 Career Numbers Back Up the Decision

Reaves has been nothing short of elite:

• 27.8 points per game
• 6.7 assists
• 5.6 rebounds
• 1.0 steal
• 36.9 minutes per game

Efficiency hasn’t dipped either:

• 50.3% from the field
• 36.9% from three
• 87.5% from the free-throw line

Those aren’t role-player numbers.

Those are star numbers.

🧠 The Three-Star Fit Is Still Evolving — But the Hierarchy Is Clear

The Lakers are still ironing out chemistry issues. LeBron missed all of training camp and the first 14 regular-season games, and things have looked clunky at times — especially when Luka sits.

But one thing is already settled:

Austin Reaves is the No. 2 option.

The ball finds him. Plays are designed for him. And when the offense stalls, he’s the release valve.

🩼 Reaves’ Injury Might Actually Help the Lakers

Reaves is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but this pause could benefit Los Angeles long-term.

It gives LeBron more room to ramp up physically while preparing the team for a stretch where all three stars peak simultaneously once Reaves returns.

When that happens, the Lakers’ ceiling rises again.

💰 A Massive Payday Is Coming — And the Lakers Know It

Reaves wants to be a Laker. And the Lakers aren’t letting LeBron James and Austin Reaves walk in the same summer.

If major roster changes are coming around Luka Dončić, all signs point to LeBron — not Reaves — being the movable piece.

At just 27 years old, Reaves has gone from undrafted to franchise cornerstone. The next step is obvious:

A massive contract extension this offseason.

🎯 What More Could Austin Reaves Ask For?

He’s:

• The trusted No. 2 scorer behind one of the four best players in the world
• On a legitimate title contender
• Playing alongside two future Hall of Famers
• Positioned for the biggest payday of his career

The Lakers have fulfilled every promise they ever made to him — and then some.

Now, all that’s left is to make it official and lock him in for life.

Because at this point, it’s clear:

Austin Reaves isn’t just part of the Lakers’ future — he is the future.