Austin Reaves is the perfect example of an athlete making the most of their opportunities. After going undrafted in 2021, he joined the Lakers on a two-way contract but made a quick impression to land himself a roster spot.

Over the next three years, he gradually improved as a ball-handler, shooter, playmaker and defender, becoming the third-best player on the Lakers. This season, the guard has taken this game to a new level, averaging career highs in points (18.5), assists (6.1), rebounds (4.3) and 3PM (2.6).

On Friday night, Reaves recorded a career-high 38 points in the Lakers’ 102-101 victory over the Nets, showing his growth as a three-level scorer.

After the game, LeBron James — who has witnessed Reaves’ evolution over the last four years — couldn’t stop raving about his teammate’s growth.

“He’s taken his opportunities and run with it — literally running with it,” James told reporters, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “He’s loved every moment when he’s been given an opportunity to go out and showcase his talent against the best players in the world. He’s showing every night that he belongs. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Reaves’ career-high meant a little more as it came against D’Angelo Russell, his former Lakers backcourt partner. When Russell was traded to the Nets recently, many analysts felt it was a sign of the Lakers choosing Reaves over the Ohio State product. As such, there was heightened pressure on both guards to perform on Friday.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 22-17 to strengthen their hold over the sixth seed in the uber-competitive Western Conference. Reaves and Co. will next face the Clippers in a road game on Sunday afternoon.