Austin Reaves was ejected for the first time in his NBA career during Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Los Angeles Lakers guard was given back-to-back technical fouls in the third quarter, which forced him to leave the game early.
Reaves ejected after heated exchange with referee
Reaves was ejected late in the third quarter when he ran to the basket but lost the ball after contact with Jusuf Nurkic. He had already expected the foul call and immediately turned toward the referee and began to yell in frustration. Officials gave him a technical foul for his reaction.
However, the situation worsened when Reaves continued complaining while walking away, followed by an immediate second technical, resulting in his ejection. He left the court visibly frustrated, finishing with eight points (3-9 FG, 2-7 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal in 27 minutes.
Lakers struggle without Reaves
Reaves’ early exit caused a challenge for the Lakers, who seemed to be struggling from the start. He has been one of the team’s most reliable scorers this season, averaging 19.1 points and over six assists per game. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis carrying most of the offensive load before the trade, Reaves had emerged as the Laker’s steady third option.
With him out, the Lakers had to lean more on Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent, but they struggled to make up for his absence.
Concerns over Reaves role with Luka & LeBron
Reaves ejection also raises concerns about his role alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic following the Lakers’ recent blockbuster trade. Reave’s flexibility as a player helped him to fit seamlessly as an off-ball player able to make moves alongside Davis and LeBron. However, that was before the trade – now, with Doncic in the mix, LA has three ball-dominant stars, leading to questions about how Reaves fits into the picture.
Despite these concerns, Reaves remains confident, saying in a recent interview: “They’re gonna do whatever they think can help our team be successful and that’s all that matters at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter who gets talked about the most. It matters if we’re winning games and trying to make a run in the playoffs.”
JJ Redick is now bestowed with a new challenge of finding the right balance in the rotation.
Reaves has been an essential part of the Lakers this season, his emotional blowup in Charlotte was a setback. He is expected to return for Thursday’s game against the Trail Blazers, where he will have a chance to bounce back. However, as the Lakers push for a strong playoff run, his ability to stay calm and composed under pressure will be critical.
About The Author
