Austin Reaves’ left oblique strain came at a terrible time for both his own career and the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 season. While LA now has to enter the playoffs without both Reaves and his superstar running mate, Luka Doncic, Reaves’ injury also destroyed what would have been a massive opportunity for Austin to prove himself as a first option on the playoff stage.
Last postseason, Reaves was battling injuries during the Minnesota Timberwolves series that he didn’t reveal until afterwards. He wasn’t 100 percent, and his reputation as a playoff performer took a hit as a result. Had Reaves been healthy for this upcoming series against the Houston Rockets, he could have rehabiliated that reputation by balling out alongside LeBron James. But alas, the basketball gods had other plans, and no one knows exactly when Reaves (and Doncic) will return.
Lakers still plan to give Austin Reaves a boatload of cash this summer
A healthy and thriving Reaves this playoffs would have also erased any doubt that the Lakers have about re-signing Austin to a huge deal this coming summer. But according to NBA analyst Jovan Buha, the Lakers actually don’t harbor any of those doubts; Reaves’ financial future with LA is secure. He’s still getting the bag.
Buha asserted on the Run It Back pod that the Lakers aren’t at all apprehensive about their plans to give Reaves a new deal, suggesting that Austin is in line to land something in the realm of a $35-$40 million yearly salary on the contract. According to Buha’s thinking, the Lakers had already made up their mind on Reaves, and injury trouble doesn’t change that.
It might help matters that Reaves has shown a willingness throughout his basketball career to play through injuries. There’s the Wolves series example from above, but there are also examples dating back to Reaves’ high school and college career.
Austin Reaves has that dog in him (even when injured)
Reaves played the last two years of his high school career with a torn left labrum (shoulder), waiting to get surgery until the months leading up to his freshman college season at Wichita State. Then, that season, Reaves tore his right labrum, waiting until after the campaign to get surgery.
Reaves has a high pain tolerance, and he loves nothing more than being on a basketball court at the highest level. He’d be out there for Game 1 of the first round on Saturday if he were physically capable.
The Lakers’ front office knows all of this. It also knows that Reaves is one of the best playmaking combo guards in the NBA, and he deserves to be paid like one. LA’s stance on Reaves hasn’t changed one bit. He’s getting paid this summer.
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