NBA news: New LA Lakers star emerges in the absence of LeBron James and Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers began the new season without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, leaving many fans worried about how the team would cope without its two biggest stars.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how another Lakers player has seized the moment to become the unexpected face of the Lakers’ early success.

Austin Reaves steps into the spotlight

When the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves without LeBron James and Luka Doncic to begin the season, many wondered who would take control of the offense.

The answer has become clear.

Austin Reaves isn’t new to the Lakers, but he has never truly had the chance to take control.

Now, given the opportunity, he has not only stepped up, he has transformed into one of the NBA’s brightest early-season stars.

Reaves delivered another statement performance this week, sinking a 12-foot floater at the buzzer to lift the Lakers past the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115.

The shot capped a stunning stretch of games for the 26-year-old guard, who has scored 51 and 41 points in his previous two outings.

His latest heroics mark him as more than a temporary fill-in; he has become the driving force behind a short-handed Lakers squad.

Putting up all-star numbers

Through the first five games of the season, Reaves is averaging 34.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 10 assists per game while shooting 53% from the field.

These are All-Star numbers by any measure, and they have placed him in the top five league-wide in both scoring and assists.

His consistency has drawn comparisons to Lakers legends like Jerry West, as he joins West as one of only two players in franchise history to average at least 25 points and five assists through the first five games of a season.

“It’s fun. I love playing basketball. I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without the coaching staff and my team-mates believing in me,” Reaves said after his buzzer-beater win in Minnesota.

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Carrying the load

With six players sidelined, including primary ball-handlers Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent, Reaves has been forced to shoulder a heavy workload.

Against the Timberwolves, he scored 28 points and tied his career high with 16 assists.

Even when his shot was not falling, his playmaking and composure kept the Lakers in control for most of the game.

Head coach J.J. Redick praised his young guard’s leadership. “He has established himself as a leader. That’s big time. That’s what we need from him,” Redick said after the win.

The coach also noted that Reaves’ emergence is not a fluke but the result of steady growth that began last season when he averaged a career-best 20.2 points per game.

Reaves himself admitted that carrying this kind of offensive load is demanding, but he welcomes the challenge.

“Physically it’s a little more, but I’m always trying to figure out how I can help, with them two and without them two,” he said, referring to James and Doncic.

A star in the making

Reaves’ rise has been one of the most surprising storylines of the season.

Just a few years ago, he was an undrafted guard from Oklahoma fighting for a roster spot. Now he is putting up numbers and delivering moments reminiscent of Kobe Bryant’s early dominance.

In fact, Reaves is the first Laker since Bryant 20 years ago to open a season with five straight games of at least 25 points.

Even as social media buzzes with praise from stars around the league, including James and Doncic themselves, Reaves remains grounded.

After his game-winner, he shared that he first told his mother’s best friend at age seven that he wanted to play in the NBA, even though he was more into baseball at the time.

That dream has now become reality, and his work ethic continues to drive him to new heights.

“The camaraderie we’ve built in a short time has been great,” Reaves said. “We’re going to keep growing together.”

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The bigger picture for the Lakers

The Lakers’ early-season adversity might end up being a blessing in disguise.

With their superstars sidelined, the rest of the roster has been forced to adapt, compete, and discover new ways to win.

Reaves’ emergence as both a scorer and a leader gives Los Angeles a reliable third star option once James and Doncic return.

While the Western Conference remains as competitive as ever, the Lakers’ ability to stay afloat behind Reaves’ heroics could prove crucial when playoff time arrives.

LeBron’s injury update

The Lakers have confirmed that LeBron James remains out due to sciatica, and there is no official return date yet.

Head coach J.J. Redick said the team hopes James can return by mid-November, depending on his recovery progress. Luka Doncic is also making positive strides, with signs pointing toward an earlier comeback.

For now, the Lakers belong to Austin Reaves, who has not only filled the void left by his superstar team-mates but is beginning to look like one himself.

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