Guard Austin Reaves wasn’t the dominant scorer and playmaker he was during the 2024-25 regular season when the 2025 NBA Playoffs rolled around. His scoring and assists averages took notable dips compared to the regular season, as he averaged just 16.2 points while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from 3-point range to go along with merely 3.6 assists per contest.

Los Angeles’ playoff run came to an end in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they threw a lot of stingy defensive players at Reaves, which got him off his game.

Former NBA forward Richard Jefferson said the Lakers need Reaves to fare better against “dog defenders” in the playoffs moving forward.

“So for the Lakers, if the Lakers are healthy, then it’s Deandre Ayton and Reaves have to play well,” he said. “And don’t forget Reaves is a very good player — borderline All-Star. But once he got against those dog defenders that you’re going to see every round of the postseason — you’re going to see dog defenders — now all of a sudden, Austin Reaves look like he regressed back to a 15-, 16-point a game type of player, which is a compliment.

“So, can he make that jump where he’s a 20-point-a-game scorer versus all of the dogs? That’s when you become a different man. And that’s what they need from him and that’s what they need from Ayton.”

It’s safe to claim that if the Lakers want to be the last team standing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, they will need Reaves to be a whole lot more productive and efficient on the offensive end compared to last season’s playoffs.

However, it’s possible he will do just that. The level of growth he’s shown throughout his NBA career has been nothing short of impressive, as he’s averaged more points and assists per game in the league with every passing season. If he continues to hone his game at his current trajectory, he should be as well-prepared as ever to star in the playoffs next year.

Plus, Reaves has proven he can be a playoff riser with how he’s fared in the playoffs earlier in his pro career, and the Lakers are hoping he will get back to that status in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

But growth isn’t always linear, and Reaves substantiated that fact with how he fared against the Timberwolves in the first round. There are some players in the league who thrive in the regular season yet consistently underperform in the playoffs, and the Lakers are praying that Reaves doesn’t build a reputation as one of those players.

In a 2025-26 campaign that will be headlined by guard Luka Doncic’s physical transformation and the Lakers’ offseason additions (such as Ayton and guard Marcus Smart), how Reaves will fare in the 2026 NBA Playoffs (assuming Los Angeles qualifies) will be an underrated storyline.