Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is entering his 23rd season at the age of 40 years old whenever he makes his season debut this year.

Already, even before the season started, James had been out with an injury; this time, it was a nerve issue known as sciatica, causing him to experience pain and delaying his preparation for the upcoming season.

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For a player of his caliber to maintain an elite level of play so far into his career, James requires meticulous care of his body.

While he remains on the sidelines, an NBA insider believes there is a player who is taking up the mantle of the Lakers’ second option.

LeBron James

Austin Reaves is averaging 30.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds this season through eight games played. He just came back after missing a week of action due to a minor groin injury.

In his return, he scored 24 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists.

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Reaves has firmly established himself as a top guard in the NBA, and ESPN’s Zach Kram believes James will end up potentially being the third option on the team when he returns.

“But if Reaves is anywhere near this good offensively, that also carries importance right now; after all, Doncic has a history of making deep playoff runs with a capable co-star in the backcourt,” Kram wrote in a story on ESPN.

“Could Reaves play a role similar to the one Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving occupied in Dallas, on trips to the conference finals and Finals, respectively? James seemed like the natural No. 2 to Doncic entering this season, but as he continues to miss time with sciatica while Reaves excels, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is in danger of being Wally Pipped.”

For James, this could be a good problem to have, especially since the wear and tear on his body means he could rely on more high-usage creators to take on a bigger role.

Reaves’ ascension may allow James to take on less of a burden in the regular season and keep himself ready for the playoffs, when his experience and understanding of the game can truly shine.

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