Last season was an unmitigated disaster for the Los Angeles Lakers, but there was one bright spot: the emergence of undrafted rookie guard Austin Reaves.
He was initially expected by plenty of observers to be a project player, but he quickly proved that he belonged in the NBA and that he had a unique skill set that cannot be easily taught.
Reaves showed he can handle the ball, make things happen off the dribble, hit open teammates and even make plays on the defensive end while displaying a visceral feel for the game.
This season, his overall numbers, especially per 36 minutes, haven’t increased. But they don’t tell the whole story.
He looks even more poised this season, and he has improved at least one key area of his game.