Lakers Guard Austin Reaves Out For 4 Weeks

When it comes down to having a completely healthy roster, it seems like the LA Lakers just can’t catch a break. Austin Reaves, who had been playing All-Star-level basketball to start the season, is expected to miss about four weeks with a strained left calf. For a team still finding its rhythm after acquiring Luka Dončić last season, losing one of its most consistent performers couldn’t come at a worse time.

In his fifth NBA season, Reaves has been playing out of his mind. Averaging a career-high 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game this season, Reaves had firmly established himself as the Lakers' second-leading scorer behind Luka Dončić. His ability to score and facilitate has made him indispensable to everything the Lakers do offensively. When he's on the floor, the offense just flows differently, and his chemistry with both Dončić and LeBron James has been crucial to the team's 19–10 start.

Now the Lakers and Reaves are facing a late-January return timeline, which means navigating a brutal stretch without one of their primary scoring threats. The immediate impact is obvious; someone needs to fill those 26 points per game. Veterans Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent will likely see increased responsibilities, while second-year wing Dalton Knecht could finally get extended opportunities to showcase his scoring ability. Newly acquired DeAndre Ayton and Jake LaRavia might also see expanded roles, but asking the supporting cast to replace Reaves's production is a massive ask.

While the team was able to handle the struggling Sacramento Kings in their first game with Reaves on the sidelines, the first month of 2026 doesn’t allow for much leeway, as they play 16 games in 30 days (17 in 32 if you add in the game against Detroit on December 30). While the schedule includes a pair of games against Memphis, New Orleans, Sacramento, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Portland, all teams that are currently struggling, the Lakers can just as easily find themselves on a losing streak against the bottom feeders as they can win against the top-tier teams.

The bigger concern is sustainability. LeBron will be 41 years old when the calendar flips, and while Luka Dončić is the face of the franchise, leaning more heavily on him during this stretch is risky given he’s already carrying a heavy load. During January, the team plays three back-to-back games, all of which may see James sitting out at least one of each pair. The Lakers desperately need to stay competitive during this stretch to maintain their playoff positioning in a loaded Western Conference.