The Los Angeles Lakers made a thumping start to the season with three back-to-back victories. And despite facing a slump currently, LeBron James & Co. are still very much confident of a championship run. However, that might just not be the case as per a Western Conference scout. And the reason? Well, Austin Reaves!
In a recent update via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the scout pointed out that Reaves is the Lakers’ third best player on the roster. And that itself, is a huge problem.
“If he’s [Austin Reaves] your third-best player, you’re not a championship contender, you’re just not. If you put Austin Reaves on the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Boston Celtics, he’s probably the fifth, maybe even sixth-best player, on those rosters,” said the scout.
An anonymous Western Conference scout believes a team can’t win with Austin Reaves as its third-best player
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 13, 2024
“If he's your third-best player, you're not a championship contender, you're just not. If you put Austin Reaves on the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Boston Celtics, he's… pic.twitter.com/7LZUbP2so2
Well, in reality, Reaves has been quite impressive this season. He has averaged 16.7 points per game, which is a career best for him. Next up, the 26-year-old is also averaging 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game with a 44% shooting from the field. Unfortunately, the Lakers lack consistent scorer’s other than an ageing LeBron James or Anthony Davis. To make matters worse, LeBron James is also currently unavailable for the Lakers.
LeBron James Steps Away Due To ‘Personal Reasons’
LeBron James is not having a great season this year. After a series of disappointing performances, King James has decided to take some time off from the Lakers. Citing ‘personal reasons’, the NBA legend has opted to rest and come back strongly. However, his stepping away is being interpreted in a completely different light by fans and critics.
LeBron James, a close friend of Diddy, is stepping away from playing for the Lakers for "personal reasons" during what’s been his worst season yet.
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) December 12, 2024
Struggling both on and off the court, LeBron has faced heavy criticism for attending Diddy’s parties, while his media company lost… pic.twitter.com/nL5YvM6Rzl
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James already faced a huge backlash for allegedly attending Diddy’s parties. In a recent X post, James’ absence was criticized heavily. “Struggling both on and off the court, LeBron has faced heavy criticism for attending Diddy’s parties,” read the post. Thus, with things looking somber for the Lakers, it now remains to be seen how well Anthony Davis and co. can bounce back.
Also Read: VIDEO: UFC Star Colby Covington Blasts LeBron James Over His “There’s No Party Like A Diddy Party” Comment
