One of the many reasons Austin Reaves’ rookie season with the Lakers was unexpected was because of the way he played while staying productive. In his final season at Oklahoma, Reaves had a usage rate of 27.7% and played as a primary ballhandler.
In his first season in the NBA, Reaves played much, much more off the ball, finishing with a usage rate of just 12.4%. And yet, he was still more than capable of making an impact, a testament to how well he adapted and his overall skillset and hard work.
But Reaves is capable of more and he’s hopeful to be able to show that in the future.