Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on March 10 that he has been encouraging guard Austin Reaves to play more aggressively as the team continues its 2025-26 season. Redick explained that he and Reaves speak almost every day, focusing on how Reaves can maximize his impact on the court.
Redick’s advice comes as Reaves returns from a calf injury that sidelined him for over a month. Before the injury, Reaves was performing at an All-Star level and had become a key contributor alongside Luka Doncic, especially during LeBron James’ absence. Since returning, Reaves experienced some struggles with his shooting but recently delivered a strong performance in a win against the New York Knicks.
“Austin and I talk almost every day, and I think the messaging to him has just been to be himself and I think sometimes when you miss time and there’s circumstances going on with the team, that you can kind of be a little passive,” Redick said. “I’ve shown him on film, I know Beau (Levesque) has shown him on film too, there are opportunities, that he’s not being as aggressive as he was earlier in the season. And so the thing we always talk about with AR and I, it’s a partnership. So here’s where I can be better, and here’s where you can be better. But we want him to be aggressive. Every time he gets the ball, we want him to be aggressive and have the mentality to touch the paint.”
Reaves’ increased offensive responsibility has helped Los Angeles perform better when he is assertive in creating shots for himself or teammates. The Lakers will rely on his leadership as they approach critical games late in the season.
The recent victory over New York was described by observers as one of Los Angeles’ most impressive wins this year due to their consistent effort throughout all four quarters. According to Reaves, outworking their opponent was key: he believes that playing harder than the Knicks made the difference.
Looking ahead, whether Reaves can maintain his high level of offensive production may influence how far the Lakers advance this season.
