Austin Reaves’ return from a Grade 1 left calf strain was short-lived. The Los Angeles Lakers star shooting guard exited Thursday’s 119-96 Christmas Day home loss to the Houston Rockets early after re-injuring his leg.
While initial intel suggested Reaves may have sustained only a minor setback, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, he is set to miss a considerable chunk of time.
What Is Austin Reaves’ Latest Calf Injury Diagnosis?
Per Charania’s Friday report, Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain, a more severe strain of the larger muscle in his calf. The undrafted guard is set to be “re-evaluated in four weeks,” marking a crippling blow to a skidding Lakers squad.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2025
Reaves previously missed three straight games due to his milder calf strain. He returned from the absence during Tuesday’s 132-108 road loss to the Phoenix Suns before suiting up on Christmas Day.
The 27-year-old lasted just one half against Houston before being ruled out due to what was initially described as “left calf soreness,” but was able to leave Crypto.com Arena without a brace.
“Austin clearly felt something,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said postgame. “We did our normal halftime, and then as we were walking out of the locker room, [Lakers director of player performance and health] Dr. [LeRoy] Sims told me he was out.”
Reaves was subsequently scheduled for an MRI on Friday, which revealed the severity of his injury. The tough news comes at an inopportune time for LA, which has lost three straight contests and six of its last 10 outings to drop to 19-10.
The breakout star’s extended absence will put an increased offensive burden on Lakers superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James, further weakening the team’s already inconsistent supporting cast.
Through 23 appearances, Reaves is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.7 3-pointers per game on strong 50.7/36.5/87.3 shooting splits. His scoring, rebounding, and assists numbers all mark career highs, resulting in him garnering major buzz for his first All-Star selection.
As LA awaits Reaves’ return, reserves Marcus Smart, Dalton Knecht, and possibly Bronny James could be in line for more playing time, though none offer anything close to the same level of offensive firepower.
The Lakers (19-10) are 15-8 with Reaves and 4-2 without him entering Sunday’s home clash against the Sacramento Kings (7-23).
