TITLE: JJ Redick Urges Austin Reaves to Maintain Aggressive Mindset After Injury Return
SLUG: jj-redick-urges-austin-reaves-to-stay-aggressive
CONTENT:
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he is pushing guard Austin Reaves to keep attacking on offense as the third-year player settles back in from a calf injury that sidelined him for more than a month.
Speaking before the Lakers’ recent victory over the New York Knicks, Redick explained that he and Reaves review game film almost daily to identify spots where the 25-year-old can replicate the assertiveness he showed early in the 2025-26 season.
“Austin and I talk almost every day,” Redick said. “There are opportunities where he’s not being as aggressive as he was earlier in the season. Every time he gets the ball, we want him to have the mentality to touch the paint.”
Reaves opened the year as a dependable backcourt partner for Luka Doncic and a fill-in scoring option whenever LeBron James was unavailable. His strong start placed him on an All-Star trajectory before the calf strain interrupted his campaign.
Since returning on schedule, Reaves has worked through a brief shooting slump, highlighted by a bounce-back performance in the win over New York. After that game, he credited the Lakers’ 48-minute effort, saying the team “played harder” than the Knicks to secure the result.
Los Angeles will continue to lean on Reaves’ shot-creation and playmaking as it navigates the stretch run of the regular season.
Source: LakersNation.com
