Sometimes basketball serves up stories that rewrite the usual hierarchy in an instant. A game where a kid without a draft number from a small town in Arkansas takes the ball — and paints the box score with 50+ — is exactly one of those. We spoke with Lakers head coach JJ Redick about Austin Reaves's evening: about skill, persistence, and the leadership that helps the team weather difficult rotations.
"He Wasn't Seeking Recognition — He Was Seeking a Way to Win"
— JJ, when did you feel that Austin was having "that" night?
— Right after the first few possessions. He was reading the defense, unhurried, taking the right angles in the pick-and-roll, drawing contact to earn fouls. It wasn't show for show's sake — he was methodically finding answers. We saw not a flash, but consistency.
Efficiency Without the Extra Noise
— What stood out about Reaves in terms of efficiency?
— Balance. He didn't live solely on three-pointers or only on drives. There was a mix: midrange, coming off screens, drive-and-kick, and getting to the free-throw line. Most important — shot selection. Austin didn't force it. He relieved pressure when our offense bogged down and turned semi-set possessions into quality shots. That's a grown-up thing.
Leadership in the Absence of Stars
— How much did his energy help when LeBron James and Luka Dončić were out?
— On nights like this, you need a player who can light up the arena and the locker room at the same time. Today that person was Austin. He didn't just score — he communicated on defense, called out switches, and pulled teammates up to the tempo. When figures like LeBron and Luka are out, it's vital for someone to take responsibility for the emotion and the rhythm. He did that.
An Undrafted Path — Not a Label, but Motivation
— You emphasized his background. Why is that important for the team?
— Because in the NBA it's easy to forget where you came from. A kid from a small town whom no one drafted is putting up 50 today. That's not a "one-night" fairy tale — it's about a habit of work. He comes into the gym every day with the same persistence. For the young guys it's a beacon: statuses change, the standard of work does not.
What Comes After 50+
— How do you turn a game like this into a foundation, not an episode?
— Lock in the principles. We're not asking Austin to be someone else. We ask him to repeat the process: discipline in spacing, patience in the pick-and-roll, defense without fouling, and vocal leadership. The points will come when you control the details. Today he did literally everything for us — and that's a plan you can replicate.
A Memory That Serves the Future
— In one sentence, what will you take away from this evening?
— A simple idea: special moments are born where persistence meets the right basketball. Austin gave exactly that to the team and the fans — and nights like this stay not just in the record book but in the character of the group.
