Austin Reaves Expected To Return During Lakers Current Road Trip

The LA Lakers need a boost of positivity and energy, which could come soon as Austin Reaves is inching closer to returning from the Grade 2 calf strain he suffered on Christmas Day. Since being confined to the sidelines, Reaves’ absence has been very evident as the Lakers have struggled. Recent reports have the fifth-year guard returning to the lineup at some point during the current eight-game road trip, which runs through February 3.

Before the injury, Reaves was in the middle of a breakout season, averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 50.7% from the field, 36.5% from three, and 87.3% at the line throughout 23 games. Playing just over 35 minutes per night, often functioning as the Lakers’ most reliable secondary creator behind Luka Doncic, Reaves’s efficiency, highlighted by a strong effective field‑goal percentage and consistent scoring bursts, not to mention his willingness to share the ball, has made him one of the team’s most indispensable players.

The Lakers’ record with and without him highlights Reaves’ value to the team this season. With Reaves in the lineup, Los Angeles is 15–8 (.652) this season, showing a more fluid offense and steadier late‑game execution. Without him, they’ve slipped to 11–9 (.550), a noticeable drop that reflects the loss of his shot creation, spacing, and playmaking. The team’s scoring average dips slightly without him, and the offense often looks more stagnant, especially in minutes when Doncic or LeBron James aren’t on the floor. 

The Lakers remain optimistic that Reaves will rejoin the rotation before the road trip ends. Based on internal expectations, the earliest realistic return dates fall between January 28 (Cleveland) and January 30 (Washington), a window that aligns with his steady progress in on‑court ramp‑up work.

Reaves won’t fix every issue, especially the team’s defensive woes, but he restores a crucial part of the Lakers’ identity with high-tempo, efficient, team basketball. On a long road trip, getting back a 26‑point‑per‑game scorer who elevates everyone around him could be the spark that shifts the team’s momentum heading into February.