Los Angeles Lakers 21-time All-NBA superstar power forward LeBron James has yet to make his 2025-26 regular season debut. The 40-year-old former four-time MVP is on the shelf indefinitely with a right-side sciatica injury, which has apparently been afflicting him since the summer.

In his absence, Lakers guard Austin Reaves appears to have stepped into the void to become a true second option for five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic. Through his first five games with the 3-2 Lakers this year, the 6-foot-5 Oklahoma product is averaging an awesome 34.2 points on .525/.385/.897 shooting splits, 10.0 assists, 5.6 boards and 1.8 swipes a night.

It's unlikely he'll finish the season with this kind of heady production, but it's also clear that Reaves appears to have reached a new level of ability

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