The Los Angeles Lakers officially announced today that their backcourt star Austin Reeves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 oblique muscle strain after an MRI.

Due to this injury, Reeves will miss the remainder of the regular season, casting a shadow over the Lakers' upcoming playoff run.

Reeves suffered an injury in the first half of Thursday's away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although he chose to play through the pain, the team officially confirmed on Saturday that he would miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing a thorough medical examination.

This level of oblique muscle strain typically requires at least a month to fully recover, and the return timeline remains uncertain. Reeves' absence is undoubtedly a huge loss for the Lakers.

This season, Reeves has transformed into an elite scorer in the league, an indispensable offensive core in the team's quest for the Pacific Division championship. In 51 games played, he delivered a stellar performance, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

In the past 19 games, the Lakers have won 16, currently holding a solid third place in the Western Conference with a record of 50 wins and 27 losses. With only two weeks left before the playoffs begin, head coach J.J. Redick emphasized that despite facing a wave of injuries, the team's goal of reaching the third seed and winning the playoff series remains unwavering.

For Reeves personally, his phenomenal offensive performance this season has earned him a substantial future asset. It is widely expected that he will decline his player option for the 2026-27 season this summer, thus qualifying for a lucrative contract extension with the Lakers.

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