Austin Reaves Gets Honest About Anthony Davis After Lakers Win
Austin Reaves added another big performance to his growing resume on Anthony Davis’ first trip back to Los Angeles, powering the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129–119 win over the
Reaves erupted for 38 points, eight rebounds and three assists, outscoring Davis by more than three-to-one on the night the former Lakers superstar returned from a 14-game absence with a strained calf. Davis managed 12 points on 10 shots in 30 minutes, but the two shared a moment afterward, swapping jerseys at Davis’ request.
“He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball,” Reaves said. “I don’t know why he wanted my jersey, but to get his is pretty special. I’ve got a lot of love for AD. He’s a big reason why I’m here today. From day one, he told me to be myself and keep working. I owe him a lot.”
Reaves’ All-Star Surge Continues: Top-10 Scoring, Elite Efficiency
Reaves’ dominance has now pushed him into the top 10 in NBA scoring, ranking ninth at 28.5 points per game. He toyed with the Mavericks’ defense, knocking down 12 of his 15 shot attempts while controlling the pace of the offense. His 51.6% shooting ranks
Davis, who spent four seasons alongside Reaves in Los Angeles, said none of this is surprising.
“He always had it,” Davis said. “With LeBron being out, he got to be that No. 2 option and control the ball. And even with LeBron back, they trust him. When I was here, I loved his game. Now he’s doing it every night.”
Reaves is on pace to shatter last season’s numbers, when he averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Through 15 games this year, he is posting 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists, driving the Lakers’ offense with star-level consistency.
Reaves’ Exploding Market Value Sets Up Massive Free-Agency Decision
Reaves’ breakout comes at a defining moment in his career. After declining a four-year, $89.2 million offer from the Lakers last summer, he is expected to opt out of his $14.9 million player option and hit unrestricted free agency.
League executives believe his earning power could explode.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the NBA’s rising salary cap could push Reaves’ max offer from other teams to around $42 million per year, placing him in the same tier as stars like
“If he plays well, there will be offers north of $40 million for him,” Woike said on The Zach Lowe Show. “His max from another team starts around $42 million. He and Trae — those are the free agents everyone’s watching.”
Under league rules, the Lakers are the only team allowed to offer Reaves a five-year maximum contract, projected at $240.7 million, per Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale. Other teams are capped at four years and $178.5 million. A four-year max from the Lakers would reach $185.9 million.
With at least 10 teams expected to hold major cap space next summer, Reaves is poised to become one of the most coveted free agents on the market.
Lakers Eye 2nd NBA Cup Title
Though Davis struggled statistically in his return, his influence on Reaves’ career was unmistakable Wednesday — especially as Reaves talked about what Davis meant to him during their time as teammates.
The Lakers’ win keeps them atop Group B and pushes them closer to their second NBA Cup title — with their new star, Austin Reaves, rapidly climbing into All-Star territory.
Luka Dončić added 35 points and 11 assists while LeBron James had 13 points and 7 assists for the Lakers, who now have the second-best odds to win the NBA Cup. The
But if the Lakers’ Big 3 continue to play this well, all bets are off.
Warriors Finally Set Clear Return Date for De’Anthony Melton
The Golden State Warriors finally offered clarity on
Warriors Announce Melton Could Return on Next Week’s Road Trip
In a statement released Saturday, the Warriors confirmed that Melton has ramped up to full practices and competitive scrimmages, signaling that his return is imminent.
“Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton, who underwent surgery to repair a torn left ACL on December 4, 2024, continues to make good progress with his rehabilitation,”
Golden State hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday before heading East for a challenging three-game stretch against the Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 4), Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 6) and Chicago Bulls
The update ends months of uncertainty surrounding a key offseason addition the Warriors had hoped to build their backcourt around.
Melton’s Return Comes as Warriors Lose Stephen Curry to Injury
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is out for a week or more.
The news arrives at a critical moment for Golden State, which lost
The Warriors entered Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans having dropped four of their past five contests, sliding back toward .500 as inconsistency and defensive lapses continue to characterize their early-season struggles.
Getting Melton back provides an infusion of defense, toughness and stability — all areas Golden State has lacked in the opening month.
Melton Was a Key Starter Before His ACL Tear
Melton appeared in only six games last season before suffering the ACL tear that wiped out his debut year with the Warriors. In those limited appearances, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting efficiently and defending at a high clip.
Golden State envisioned the 27-year-old guard as a perfect complement to Curry: a tough on-ball defender, active playmaker and reliable shooter who could guard the league’s elite guards while allowing Curry to carry less defensive burden.
The early returns reflected that vision. Melton started twice next to Curry, and the Warriors raced to a 12-2 start before his injury derailed their rotation and rhythm.
Warriors Backcourt Struggled Without Melton, Leading to Midseason Shake-Ups
Without Melton to start the season, Golden State cycled through multiple options in search of backcourt stability — Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard — but none fully replicated Melton’s blend of defense, toughness and efficient scoring.
The Warriors slid to 11th in the West last season before aggressively reshaping the roster, including the blockbuster addition of Jimmy Butler. Melton briefly became caught in a series of trade sequences involving Dennis Schröder and the Brooklyn Nets, though the Warriors ultimately held onto him.
Melton later said he held no bitterness about the trade discussions.
“Business is business. I probably would’ve traded myself, too,” Melton said. “At my contract, you needed someone who could come in, play and help the team… I felt no type of way and I understood.”
Melton Expected to Reclaim Starting Role Next to Curry
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole projected in September that Melton would reclaim his starting spot as soon as he was fully cleared.
“You want someone next to Steph who’s a two-way player,” Poole said on the Dubs Talk podcast. “Melton is a good on-ball defender with a great feel for team defense. That lets Steph be Steph.”
Head coach Steve Kerr has long prioritized defense and physicality in the backcourt — two areas where Melton excels. With Curry sidelined and Golden State entering a difficult road stretch, his return becomes even more consequential.
For a Warriors team battling injuries, inconsistency and growing urgency, Melton’s comeback could not be better timed.
