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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves took a major step forward in his production this season. Last season, he averaged a solid 15.9 points a game, but he upped that figure to 20.2 points per game this season.
He hit the 30-point mark nine times this season, which included a career-best 45-point outburst in February against the Indiana Pacers when LeBron James wasn't in action. In his 17 regular-season games, he put up 24.9 points per game on 52.4% field-goal shooting and 42.4% from 3-point range.
It is fair to say that he's now playing at an All-Star level, and some Lakers fans may feel he deserves to win the Most Improved Player award. However, the NBA announced its candidates for the Most Improved Player award, and Reaves didn't make the cut.
In fact, no Lakers players were named as candidates for any of the league's individual awards.
At the end of the day, one has to be sure that Reaves would gladly trade the Most Improved Player award for an NBA championship ring, something many have felt Los Angeles has a real shot at claiming this year.
But for L.A. to win it all, Reaves will have to get back to his usual level of production. In Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, he had a modest 16 points while going just 5-of-13 from the field.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Is Austin Reaves a candidate for the NBA's Most Improved Player award?
Continue reading...
He hit the 30-point mark nine times this season, which included a career-best 45-point outburst in February against the Indiana Pacers when LeBron James wasn't in action. In his 17 regular-season games, he put up 24.9 points per game on 52.4% field-goal shooting and 42.4% from 3-point range.
It is fair to say that he's now playing at an All-Star level, and some Lakers fans may feel he deserves to win the Most Improved Player award. However, the NBA announced its candidates for the Most Improved Player award, and Reaves didn't make the cut.
In fact, no Lakers players were named as candidates for any of the league's individual awards.
Complete list of awards finalists for the 2024-25 NBA regular seasonpic.twitter.com/4bgbfQpohT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2025
At the end of the day, one has to be sure that Reaves would gladly trade the Most Improved Player award for an NBA championship ring, something many have felt Los Angeles has a real shot at claiming this year.
But for L.A. to win it all, Reaves will have to get back to his usual level of production. In Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, he had a modest 16 points while going just 5-of-13 from the field.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Is Austin Reaves a candidate for the NBA's Most Improved Player award?
Continue reading...
