While the Los Angeles Lakers face the possibility of an unceremonious sweep, the patience surrounding Austin Reaves is evaporating with each successive game.
Saturday night’s 131-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder has pushed Los Angeles to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference semifinals.
Amid the disappointment, Reaves’ playoff performance has sparked difficult conversations about his future.
Los Angeles Lakers Face Difficult Offseason Decision With Austin Reaves‘ Playoff Disaster
Reaves entered the year with massive expectations, and his partnership with Luka Dončić during the regular season got the Los Angeles fans dreaming of a championship run.
However, injuries to both him and the Slovenian poured water on the Lakers’ playoff chances, though LeBron James kept them alive as they got past the Houston Rockets in Round 1.
Missing nine games with a Grade 2 oblique strain, Reaves made his return in Game 5 against Houston, pouring in 22 points and 6 assists.
After Reaves averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists during the regular season, there was hope that the 27-year-old would regain his rhythm just in time for the semifinals against Oklahoma City.
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With a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, his commitment toward Los Angeles could earn him a $241 million max contract, per reports.
Perceived as a smart, scrappy underdog who made the right reads, Reaves had huge expectations to support James with Dončić still sidelined.
However, the optimism did not last long.
Averaging 18.6 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds with 19 turnovers so far, Reaves has fallen short of expectations, including an 18.8% shooting night in Game 1 against OKC.
After a series of poor showings and defensive struggles, the fans, and very likely the front office, are doing a double-take on Reaves’ contract numbers.
Austin Reaves in the Playoffs
Do NOT pay this man 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZJUKb41Y6E
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 10, 2026
One user highlighted his playoff slump and wrote, “…last two postseasons have exposed his issues vs athleticism and ball pressure. For every great offensive game, he’s getting hunted defensively… teams are targeting him nonstop…”
I dunno, last two postseasons have exposed his issues vs athleticism and ball pressure. For every great offensive game, he’s getting hunted defensively. Same problem Luka has. Massive offensive engine when everything is right, but teams are targeting him nonstop on the other end.
— Arjun Sampath (@Arjunvsampath) May 10, 2026
“Austin Reaves is a good basketball player, but the moment they give him a big bag..Luka’s championship window is probably shut. He’s not built to be the 2nd option on a championship team,” another user claimed.
“The Lakers are about to pay $150M + to Austin, and he’ll deserve it. But he just got badly outplayed by the Thunder’s 15th-highest-paid player…” Jason Timpf wrote, with Kevin O’Connor responding, “How about 5/$240M though?”
How about 5/$240M though?
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 10, 2026
“How’s that Austin Reaves contract looking after this series?” another user pondered.
“Austin Reaves is overrated,” one user bluntly remarked.
Austin Reaves is overrated
— John Richardson (@johndrichardson) May 10, 2026
“Lakers need to sell high with Reaves. He’ll always fold against the best defenses and he’s a cone. It was a good story tho,” one user declared, urging the Lakers to close the Reaves chapter.
Lakers need to sell high with Reaves. He’ll always fold against the best defenses and he’s a cone. It was a good story tho.
— 𝙀𝙧𝙖 (@TheWestbrookEra) May 10, 2026
Game 4 against the Thunder on Monday feels customary, as no team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 hole.
James looked every bit of his 41 years tonight, and this impending playoff exit will only ignite questions over his future as well.