Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers is no easy task by any means, but one ‘overrated’ player has seemingly made himself untouchable on the team.
Following a third seed finish during the 2024-25 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have only improved with major offseason additions.
With the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic already on the roster, the Lakers have a real shot to win it all next season.
While the Lakers have had a positive offseason, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes that the team is home to one of the most overrated players in the NBA.
Despite being undrafted during the 2021 NBA Draft, Austin Reaves has managed to become a key player for the Lakers.
So much so that many view him as the best third option in the league. Now, that’s a huge statement. Evidently, the Lakers offered him a contract extension this summer.
However, Reaves rejected the $90m offer in hopes of signing a bigger deal next season. But does the 27-year-old deserve that kind of money? Well, according to Buckley, AR15 belongs in the most overrated players in the league instead.
“Life under the Hollywood spotlight has both its perks and its problems. Performing inside of a fishbowl magnifies both strengths and shortcomings, leading to often confusing views of a player’s true valuation.
“In other words, it really isn’t Reaves’ fault he’s on this list, but he’s also benefiting from being perhaps the most talked-about third option in basketball,” Buckley wrote.
“How many—if any—headlines would be dedicated to him if he was putting up the same 20.2 points and 5.8 assists on, say, the New Orleans Pelicans instead of the Lakers?” he added.
Buckley then dissected how Reaves is ‘not spectacular’ due to barely crossing the average player efficiency rating last season.
“Those are good numbers, sure, but they’re not spectacular. For that matter, neither are his career marks in player efficiency rating (15.5, league average is 15) or BPM (plus-0.5).
“He is a skilled scorer and a capable secondary playmaker, but he’s not elite in either category. He’s also a limited on-ball defender who doesn’t make plays on that end of the floor,” Buckley explained.
Despite Buckley’s points, Reaves has shown continuous growth since making his NBA debut in 2021. So what does this mean for his next contract?
Should Reaves earn around $30m annually? Buckley certainly doesn’t seem to think so.
“Add it all up, and you’re looking at an offense-leaning (offense-only?) solid starter or perhaps high-end sixth man.
“Yet, you’ll hear talk of him being a star, being untouchable, and potentially soon being paid north of $30 million annually,” the NBA writer continued.
Ultimately, Buckley dropped a pretty harsh verdict on Reaves by labelling him a ‘high-end role player.’
“He might be a high-end role player, but that’s probably where he tops out. Because while he may seem young in terms of NBA service (four seasons under his belt), his 27th birthday is already behind him.
“It’s possible we’ve already seen his best, and his best isn’t nearly as good as you’ve probably heard from the loudest, most optimistic portion of his fanbase,” Buckley concluded.
