Austin Reaves’ stellar rookie season was equal parts surprising and exciting for Lakers fans this year. After flashing signs in Summer League, Reaves impressed the Lakers in the offseason then spent the whole season impressing everyone who played with or against him and those watching him as well.
But late in the season, Reaves ran into the proverbial wall, bringing his momentum to a grinding halt. It led to him getting benched for a pair of vitally important games down the stretch. As frustrating as it was, Reaves rebounded in the team’s final game for a historic triple-double.