So far this season, it is clear that the Los Angeles Lakers have finally given Austin Reaves a set of main keys. Buried inside that excitement is a familiar warning.
JJ Redick is empowering Reaves the same way Jason Kidd once empowered Jalen Brunson while he was a member of the Dallas Mavericks, and Luka Doncic knows exactly how that story ends: the second star grows, blossoms… and sadly eventually leaves.
Jalen Brunson blueprint is playing out again and Lakers must pay attention
Redick has not been shy about what he expects from Reaves.
In Dave McMenamin’s ESPN report, Redick said, “The biggest thing was him taking a step forward as a leader and recognizing that it's as much his team as it is LeBron's team or Luka's team.”
He even doubled down, telling Reaves he has “innate, natural leadership skills” and that he’s “out of excuses” now that he’s one of the main guys. Reaves took that message to heart. He told ESPN that Redick literally pulled him aside and said, Take control. Be a leader.
Reaves laughed that he was not even sure his teammates liked him as much as Redick claimed, but the message stuck: hiding in the background is no longer an option. If all of this sounds familiar, it should.
With the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic’s best playoff runs, which include the 2022 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 NBA Finals, came when he had a secondary creator capable of steadying the offense.
In the 2021–22 season, it was Brunson who won playoff games while Doncic was sidelined. Then he left for the New York Knicks, became a two-time All-NBA guard, and left the Mavericks scrambling for a new number two.
That is the part the Lakers can’t ignore. Developing a player is one thing. Keeping him once he realizes his value is another. Reaves is giving this team every reason to treat him like a long-term cornerstone.
So far, through nine games, he has been averaging 28.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.4 steals. Every number is a career high. He has become the offensive pressure valve that Doncic needs, the connector that his teammates trust, and one of the key pieces that Redick clearly wants to build around.
There is a line between empowerment and letting someone else discover their ceiling on your watch. Brunson hit that next level and walked. Reaves, headed toward free agency this offseason, could start thinking the same way.
The Lakers are finally building something balanced around Doncic. If they want to avoid repeating Dallas’ biggest mistake, they need to treat Reaves’ growth not as a pleasant surprise, but as a priority they can’t afford to lose.