Uhh, who gave Austin Reaves permission to be this good? This guy goes from undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2021, to a quantum leap forward in his second NBA season to where he’s a real factor in the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff hopes. Raise your hand if you saw that one coming.

Now look. I’m not trying to detract from or downplay the significant roles Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell played in Wednesday’s win over the Suns.

…All I’m saying is, Reaves isn’t an all-world big man like AD, or a former No. 2 overall pick like Russell who’s at least made an All-Star team before. This guy was spurned on draft night by every single team. Nobody thought he could make it in the pros. Not only is he making it, he’s thriving.

Reaves’ free throw numbers are as if he’s channeling Prime LeBron given the ease at which he’s getting to the basket. Are the scriptwriters just paying off the refs to make a stud out of this guy?

When you look at the specific man who oversaw the officiating of tonight’s game, it’s tempting to connect certain dots given the history between Scott Foster and his arch-nemesis Chris Paul…

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…Or is LeBron using dark science/cloning/secrets only the Sith knew to transfer his essence and/or legendary basketball mind into Reaves while he recovers from his foot injury? 

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Given The King’s 20-year reign in the NBA and continued domination when he’s healthy, I wouldn’t put it past him — or the NBA teleplay scribes — to introduce an experimental sorcery subplot as LeBron sells his soul for one final, proper stand. One last push to chase a fifth championship with this ascending, dangerous Purple and Gold squad.

If you’re getting AD at his best, potentially Russell at his best as well, a lockdown versatile defender in Jarred Vanderbilt and you’re getting this type of offensive creation and firepower from Austin Freaking Reaves? I think you’re going to like your chances if you’re LA in a Western Conference riddled with parity at the moment.

Austin Reaves: 35-6-6 with 18 free throws in a game the Lakers absolutely had to win down the stretch. Which timeline are we in where that is real life? I’m so lost. All I know is, I won’t question if it’s rigged or not. All I ask is that Adam Silver and his cronies fix this shit so hard so that LeBron can get one step closer to six titles, to render the whole “Finals losses” narrative irrelevant.

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…Oh hey, and while you’re at it Mr. Commish, rig the damn NBA Draft lottery in Portland’s favor. Give Dame a break and put Victor Wembanyama on the Blazers. It’s easily the most intriguing scenario among the teams near the top of the lottery and you know it. Remember that Pelicans lottery win at 6% for the rights to Zion Williamson? Welp, Portland’s odds are at 7.5%. Time to make it happen again.

Good news for the Lakers: They don’t have to stare down such unsavory scenarios just yet thanks to, that’s right, Austin Reaves. Well, that and and the fact that they’ve sold off most of their draft assets but that’s a whole other thing for “LeGM” critics to think on. 

And maybe, just maybe, Reaves and the Lake Show are getting a liiiiiiitle help from the zebras. Don’t tell me that Foster-CP3 perpetual spat doesn’t make you wonder at least a tad.

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Twitter @MattFitz_gerald/TikTok