Kendrick Perkins delivered one of his most eyebrow-raising takes yet when discussing the Los Angeles Lakers.
While debates around LeBron James and Luka Doncic usually dominate the conversation, Perkins shifted the spotlight entirely, placing unexpected importance on Austin Reaves.
Kendrick Perkins explains why Austin Reaves matters most
Speaking during a segment shared on ESPN, Perkins stunned viewers with how far he was willing to go in his assessment of Reaves’ role.
He said, “LeBron is not the second option no more. That’s Austin Reaves. Austin Reaves is not only the most important player outside of Luka on the Los Angeles Lakers, but one could argue he’s the most important player in the NBA.
“Because right now, when I look at this Lakers team, we’re talking about Austin Reaves auditioning.”
The claim immediately stood out as Reaves may have shown signs of stardom, but putting him above James and more importantly, all other players in the NBA seems a bit excessive.
In his view, Reaves represents flexibility. He is young, productive, and positioned at the center of the Lakers’ next major decision.
That context explains why Perkins framed Reaves as an auditioning player rather than a finished product. Every performance now feeds into a larger evaluation.
Why Perkins believes Reaves shapes LA Lakers’ future plans
Perkins expanded on his point by tying Reaves directly to the Lakers’ long-term direction.
“The biggest question out there is when they move, or if they move from LeBron, which it seems like it’s trending that way, can Luka and Austin Reaves be those two franchise max guys that you can build a championship around?
“And if the answer is no, then we know that some other team out there in the league is going to believe,” Perkins stated.
This is where the argument shifts from hot take to strategy. Perkins suggested Reaves is not just part of the Lakers’ rotation, but he is part of their evaluation process.
If Los Angeles believes Reaves can be a core piece next to Luka, it shapes how aggressively they move on from LeBron. If they do not, Reaves becomes one of the most valuable trade or market assets in the league.
That is the logic behind calling him important. Not because he is the best player, but because decisions around him will ripple across the franchise.
Whether fans agree or not, Perkins’ framing highlights how quickly narratives can shift. In a league driven by timelines and leverage, importance is sometimes about positioning rather than pedigree.
And right now, Perkins believes Austin Reaves sits at the center of it all.
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