Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins says Austin Reaves will be vital for the Los Angeles Lakers in the postseason

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 27, 2025, 21:56 IST

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Kendrick Perkins commended Austin Reaves for his performance in the Lakers' 120-119 win against the Pacers. He believes Reaves could be vital for the Lakers' postseason. LeBron James also returned from injury, contributing to the victory with a game-winning tip-in. The Lakers are preparing for their upcoming game against the Chicago Bulls.

Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins says Austin Reaves will be vital for the Los Angeles Lakers in the postseason

Austin Reaves vs the Pacers (Image via Getty)

Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player who won the championship with the Boston Celtics and currently works as an analyst for ESPN, recently made some remarks on Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves after their game against the Indiana Pacers. The ex-NBA professional was quite impressed with Reaves and said that he could become someone to positively impact the team and their game in the postseason.

Kendrick Perkins comments on Austin Reaves' X-factor

After the recent game between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers, which the Lakers won, a lot of focus has shifted toward Austin Reaves. It was quite a thrilling match, with the final scoreline ending in 120-119, in favor of the Lakers, and Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were the star players of the night. And Kendrick Perkins thinks it's the latter's X-factor that made a lot of difference.

“Austin Reaves was the X-factor [in the Lakers’ win over the Pacers]. It’s the trust that JJ Redick, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic has in him... If the Lakers are going to make a deep run in the postseason, it’s going to be because of games like this behind Austin Reaves.”
According to Perkins, Reaves would be a major part of the Lakers postseason and could be very impactful alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic for the team.

LeBron James is back on court after injury

LeBron James missed a few week's worth of games after suffering a groin injury. But seems like he is doing better now, as he suited up for the game against the Pacers in the Lakers home arena. He scored 13 points, 7 assists, and 13 rebounds in the game, and is slowly coming to his form.

While his start to the game isn't anything to write home about, he ended the game with a bang, as his tip-in at the buzzer gave the Lakers the win against the Lakers by one point. Talk about the right place at the right time. Talking about the game-winning point, James said:

"I really couldn't have too much emotion because I was trying to see if I got the ball off in time."
The Lakers are currently on a 44-28 run, and are getting ready to face the Chicago Bulls later tonight, who are on a 8-2 winning ratio in their last 10 games.
Also Read: “You won’t matter much”: Stephen A. Smith trashes LeBron James with another bold remark right after Los Angeles Lakers star’s response to their ongoing feud

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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