The Lakers star is set to be out for at least four weeks due to a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain.
JJ Redick is devastated about the looming long absence of Austin Reaves from the Los Angeles Lakers.
As he addressed the media on Saturday, the Lakers coach described Reaves as "frustrated" over his sudden injury absence.
"I think the biggest thing right now, at least when I talked to him yesterday, is that I’m bummed for him," Redick said about Reaves. "I feel for him.
"When you have an injury that’s longer-term, not just something like an ankle sprain or a tweaked hamstring where you know you’ll be back in a week, there’s a bit of a grieving process."
It was announced recently that Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will miss at least four weeks.
He sustained the brutal injury and left prematurely in the Lakers' Christmas Day loss against the Houston Rockets, his second game since he returned from a three-game absence due to a left calf strain earlier this month.
This is truly an unfortunate development for the undrafted star, who has been enjoying a major year this 2025-26 season. Before going down, Reaves is averaging a career-high 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds in 23 games.
Along with Luka Doncic, he was primarily responsible for the Lakers' strong 15-4 season start, until the team stumbled recently and lost three of its last three games.
Redick was fully compelled about Reaves' meteoric rise, in which he notably argued that the guard deserves to be named an All-Star this season.
But right now, Redick is giving Reaves the room he needs to reflect and recover over the stunning setback he sustained.
"I think it’s important to respect that [grieving] process, Redick further said about Reaves, "but I’m bummed for him."
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