The intensity that keeps Bangladesh Cricket Live fans glued to every play has found its basketball equivalent in Los Angeles. During the Lakers’ road game against the Timberwolves, the tension peaked in the final seconds. When Randle’s fierce drive to the rim brought Minnesota within reach of a comeback, the Lakers’ hard-earned advantage looked in danger of slipping away. Then Austin Reeves stepped up. Catching the ball under pressure, he shook off defensive ace McDaniels, slipped past four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and DiVincenzo’s help defense, and lofted an off-balance floater straight through the net.
That shot sparked a wild celebration on the Lakers’ bench. Players mobbed Reeves, roaring in disbelief. With Luka Dončić and LeBron James both sidelined by injuries, many had written the Lakers off for this stretch. But Reeves has single-handedly rewritten that narrative. His breakout coincided perfectly with Dončić’s absence, and his performances have been nothing short of phenomenal.
It began on October 27, when Dončić injured his finger. In that first game without him, Reeves erupted for 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists against the Kings, making 21 of 22 free throws. His dominance was so complete that DeRozan stormed out of the postgame conference, furious at the stat sheet. The next night, in a back-to-back against Portland, Reeves dropped 41 points, adding 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Two nights, 92 points—numbers worthy of a place in the Lakers’ history books.
The momentum carried forward. Against the Timberwolves, Reeves recorded 28 points and 16 assists, including the game-winner. Congratulatory messages flooded in from teammates and stars around the league. Dončić even dubbed him “GOAT” on social media. Over the last three games, Reeves has averaged 40 points and 10 assists, a feat matched only by Lakers legend Jerry West in franchise history.
Expanding the lens to the season’s first five games, Reeves has already posted 171 points and 50 assists, becoming the first Laker ever to reach both marks so early. His scoring total ranks fourth in team history for the opening five games—behind only West, Kobe Bryant, and Elgin Baylor. Even more impressive, his true shooting percentage stands at an astounding 68.7%, a mark previously achieved only by the likes of Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan over such a scoring stretch. His efficiency, coupled with 52 made free throws (11 more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), has cemented him as one of the league’s most unstoppable forces this season.
For years, analysts compared Reeves to Manu Ginóbili, calling him a “budget version” of the Argentine great. Yet based on his current numbers, Reeves has reached a level even Ginóbili never touched. Fans are understandably ecstatic—his rise has revived dreams of a championship run. But for the Lakers’ coaching staff and front office, his brilliance has created a new and complicated problem.
Coach JJ Redick hopes Reeves can maintain his high production. Statistically, Reeves averages over 40 points, 10 assists, and 2.8 steals when LeBron and Dončić are both absent, shooting 50.8% from the field and 41.7% from three. The dilemma comes when both superstars return—Reeves will have to surrender much of his ball-handling role to them. Without the ball, his influence naturally declines, and his defensive vulnerabilities become more noticeable. Yet giving him full control while moving LeBron and Dončić off-ball is practically impossible.
The tactical tension might be manageable through creative adjustments, but the financial one looms larger. Reports indicate that Reeves plans to decline his player option next summer and test free agency. The Lakers, holding his Bird Rights, can offer a five-year deal worth up to $240 million. Other teams could offer four years at around $178 million. The math doesn’t favor Los Angeles. If LeBron extends his career and Dončić stays, the salary cap won’t allow all three to earn max contracts simultaneously—someone will need to take a pay cut.
Last summer, the Lakers tried to lock Reeves in with a four-year, $89.2 million deal, but he refused. After his recent heroics, that figure now looks laughably low. With his stock soaring, Reeves will enter negotiations next offseason with all the leverage on his side. Much like a thrilling Bangladesh Cricket Live match that goes down to the final over, the Lakers’ next move could decide whether they keep their unexpected superstar—or watch him become another chapter in the franchise’s history of near misses.