Austin Reaves Injury Update- Reports of Austin Reaves Playing Through Toe Sprain in NBA Playoffs Surface

After it was revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James suffered a knee injury during the fourth quarter of Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, reports of Austin Reaves also dealing with a toe injury have surfaced. Notably, the third-seeded Lakers suffered an embarrassing 4-1 first-round loss in the NBA Playoffs 2025 to a lower-seeded Wolves, and were knocked out of the championship contention.

Following the loss, it was revealed that not only James but even Reaves was also dealing with a toe sprain that would have kept him out of action for two-four weeks. Per the reports, he avoided walking on it during his off days in order to continue playing with an aim to make a trip to the NBA Finals. 

According to NBA insider Trevor Lane, “Can confirm that Austin Reaves was dealing with a left big toe sprain during the Playoffs. Was considered to be a 2-4 week injury but he gutted it out. I’m told Reaves was not walking on it on off days to try to get through the playoffs.” 

Several other reports suggest that the 26-year-old suffered the injury in Game 3. It means that had the Lakers been able to push the series, James and Reaves wouldn’t be able to help Luka Doncic carry the team in the final two games of the series. Hence, it can be said that while it was frustrating and disappointing for the Lakers to suffer a first-round loss for the second straight season, maybe it came as a blessing in disguise. 

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“I Wasn’t Good Enough To Help Us Be Successful”- Austin Reaves Takes Blame for Lakers’ First-Round Exit

Austin Reaves, who joined the LA Lakers in 2021, had a career-year in 2024-25, where he played 73 games and started in all of them. Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game in the season. The emerging star guard was often seen as the third best offensive player on a championship team. However, during the playoffs, his performance saw a clear dip. 

Following the five-game playoffs campaign, Reaves took the blame of the loss and said that he wasn’t good enough to help the side become successful. The Newark, Arkansas-born said that he wished he could have done more. He said,

“I didn’t have the series that I wanted to have, so you can point the finger at me. I really don’t care, I wasn’t good enough to help us be successful and I wish I could’ve done more. But I didn’t, I struggled. You live and you learn.” 

He said that he would work on himself this offseason and be better in the upcoming season. Reaves added, “I guarantee that I’ll get back to work this offseason and I’ll be better.”

Notably, in the five-game series averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He was shooting 41.1% overall and 31.9% from the three-point arc. 

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