Austin Reaves just inked a massive four-year, $184 million deal with the Lakers, and his immediate focus? Making sure he actually stays on the court to earn every single penny of it. After a career-best 2025-26 season that saw him drop a huge 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, injuries sidelined him. He was limited to only 51 regular-season matchups and also missed four playoff outings. Those missed games cost him big time, robbing him of what looked like a sure-fire All-Star berth and an All-NBA nod, both of which were totally plausible if he’d stayed healthy. So yeah, the dude knows what’s up.
LeBron’s Blueprint: The Ultimate Health Playbook
Reaves isn’t just talking; he’s taking action, and he’s doing it with a lesson straight from the GOAT himself. Spending his first five years playing alongside LeBron James clearly had an impact. Reaves told reporters at media day that this intense focus on body care is one of the biggest things he picked up from James. “I think that’s one of the biggest things I learned from LeBron was what he did every single day to give himself the opportunity to still play this game at the highest level,” Reaves said. “There’s a lot more that goes into it than the casual fan sees. You have to do more every single day and especially the older that you get. He’s a perfect example of that. We’ve had a really good summer, put myself in a really good spot going into this year.” This isn’t just about playing smarter; it’s about training harder and smarter behind the scenes, something many don’t grasp.
Dedicated Support For A Prime-Time Player
This commitment is no joke. The Lakers are bringing back former strength coach Ed Streit as Reaves’ dedicated trainer for the season. This is a serious move, similar to how Mike Mancias worked with LeBron James or Anže Maček works with Luka Dončić. It signals that Reaves is not messing around; he’s investing in his health like never before as he enters the prime of his career. Why is this such a big deal? Because Reaves is a straight-up dynamite creator, an adept off-ball scorer, and a talented passer who thrives at all three levels and draws fouls like it’s his job. He and Luka Dončić form one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts, and they’re the absolute foundation of any offensive success the Lakers will have this season, which should be very, very good. But here’s the kicker: they both have to play more than they did last season.
This isn’t just about a contract; it’s about unlocking a player who’s ready to explode in his absolute prime. Reaves and Dončić know they gotta play more than they did in 2025-26, and it looks like they’ve “dialed up the diligence” to make sure it happens. If Reaves stays healthy, expect him to contend for All-Star appearances and All-NBA honors. This season? It’s all about whether Reaves can finally put it all together for a full run. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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