Austin Reaves: The Superman Run

Superman in Purple and Gold — Austin Reaves takes flight in L.A.

There’s something poetic about Austin Reaves’ rise — like a plot twist nobody saw coming, except maybe Reaves himself. Undrafted. Overlooked. Signed to a two-way deal. And now? He’s headlining the Lakers’ offense like a man who decided the script needed a rewrite.

Through five games, Reaves is averaging 34 points and 10 assists, shooting 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. 

After dropping 51 points last week and following it with 41 — capped off by a game-winning runner last night, Reaves has proven he’s a three-level scorer. He can drive it, shoot it, and create for both himself and others. You can question the defense if you want (and plenty still do), but you can’t deny the poise. He’s calm in chaos, smooth under pressure, and playing with a confidence that feels earned.

Some have tried to label this Linsanity 2.0, but that’s the wrong flick. This isn’t a rerun — it’s a reboot. And while Jeremy Lin had his moment in 2012, Austin Reaves is giving us something different.

I’m not saying Reaves is saving the planet, but this stretch carries the same kind of energy Christopher Reeve brought to the big screen back in the ’70s — cape on, world on his shoulders, cool under pressure. Reaves might not be leaping tall buildings, but right now he’s keeping the Lakers afloat until their two megastars return to the lineup.

But for now, the Lakers orbit around Austin.