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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers calls a play during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Well, that certainly did go as planned for the Los Angeles Lakers. But that’s often how the opponent feels after a game in Paycom Center.

The Lakers clawed and scratched for a while. The Oklahoma City Thunder, really, didn’t care. 

Up until the final few minutes of the third quarter, the Lakers hung around and tried aiming for one last punch. The Thunder weren’t having any of it.

They didn’t turn to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Chet Holmgren to close the deal.

They called up one of those 76 highly-capable role players to seal the deal. This time it was Jared McCain, the 76ers reject now a pivotal bench piece for the defending NBA champions.

Los Angeles deserves applause for how it played for a good chunk of Game 1. Now imagine how different the game could have been if the other available star Laker showed up and showed out.

No, it was not Austin Reaves’ night by any stretch.

He conceded after the game no one would want to hear him make excuses after playing an awful game. He was right. But now he has to sit here and hear everyone talk about how he suddenly has played his way right out of a big contract.

Los Angeles Lakes Urged to Think Twice About Giving Star Big Money

It is often said in the NBA that reacting strongly to Game 1s is never good. 

Some missed that memo.

Reaves was so nonexistent in Game 1 that everyone forgot how badly the Thunder vanquished the Lakers in the fourth quarter. 

The once affectionately dubbed Hill Billy Kobe rattled off a 3-for-16 shooting performance. But the bigger frustration for Lakers fans perhaps lies in this: the 27-year-old Reaves was outplayed, outhustled, outlived, outdid, out-everything’d by the 41-year-old LeBron James. 

GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks to pass the ball. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

It can’t be that James, all these years later, is still hearing folks talk about if only he had a supporting cast in playoff games. Welp, thank Reaves for that internet discourse popping up again.

Then there’s Reaves’ upcoming contract situation the Lakers have to figure out in the offseason. But some aren’t willing to wait for the offseason to kick off. They aren’t even willing to bite their tongue until Game 2. 

In a recent Los Angeles Times column, writer Bill Plaschke already made a case for why Reaves has not yet proven he is worth the big bucks. 

“And now this, an opening statement against the Thunder that raised an interesting question in advance of a summer when Reaves is expected to opt out of his $14.9-million contract in hopes of earning a $241-million maximum deal from the Lakers,” Plaschke wrote. “Is he worth the money? Is he worth making him the second-highest paid Laker and thus limiting their financial ability to better build around [Luka] Doncic? After Tuesday night, one has to wonder. This wouldn’t look so bad if the Lakers still weren’t missing the league’s leading scorer, Doncic sidelined indefinitely because of a strained left hamstring. Reaves will be given the big money to be a wingman, not the main man, so he’s currently being asked to play a role that he won’t be playing if he stays here.”

A Career-Changing Series on the Line? 

There’s no denying it. AR-15 was ammoless in the Lakers’ 18-point Game 1 loss. 

With no Doncic — the league’s leading scorer and one of the greatest offensive hubs ever — in the lineup, even the seventh and eighth guys off the bench need to step up their game. 

It is plainly inexcusable for the top available scorer on the team to disappear. 

But does one game really mean Reaves isn’t worthy of a smashing new contract? Is the world overreacting to one game?

Now, if he plays the entire series like he did in Game 1, that’s an entirely different story. Reaves can prove he is worthy of max dollars.

Or, he can prove perhaps he’s worthy of another team paying him.

He at least has three more tries at redemption. No, make it two. 

Because if the Lakers go down 0-3, yeah, mhm.