How Rui Hachimura first noticed Austin Reaves star potential

How Rui Hachimura First Noticed Austin Reaves' Star Potential

The Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a mixed start to the 2025-26 season without LeBron James, but Austin Reaves has emerged as a standout player. Lakers forward Rui Hachimura recently shared how he first recognized Reaves’ potential during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I’m not gonna lie, three years ago, when I got traded here, I honestly didn’t know about him before. He was injured, I think, at that time,”
“I think he came back against Milwaukee. He made a move on Giannis at the top and finished with a layup. I was like, ‘Ooh, okay, he got it,’”

This moment convinced Hachimura that Reaves had the talent to become an important player for the Lakers.

Austin Reaves' Growth and Current Performance

Since then, Reaves has steadily improved, building on a breakthrough 2022-23 season. He is currently enjoying the best start of his NBA career. Over the first five games of this season, he averages 34.2 points, 10 assists, and 5.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 60% overall.

With LeBron James still sidelined due to sciatica and Luka Doncic also out, Reaves has taken on a significant role and continues to excel under pressure.

Summary: Rui Hachimura first noticed Austin Reaves’ talent in a game three years ago, and since then, Reaves has grown into a key Lakers player, shining especially during the 2025-26 season start.

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BasketNews.com BasketNews.com — 2025-10-31

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