“Gonna Be Judged”: Paul Pierce Warns Austin Reaves That Playoffs Will Be the True Test Amid Superstar Rise

A player can win all 82 games and score 40 points in each one of them in the regular season. But at the end of it, if he slides to a first-round playoff exit, that low point will always be used to define the rest of his career. The postseason is where performance truly counts, Paul Pierce has warned Austin Reaves, one of the NBA’s hottest stars in the 2025-26 season.

Reaves has averaged 29.3 points while shooting 52.5 percent from the field so far. The Lakers, who sit at 16-6 and second in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, are also flying thanks to him and Luka Doncic.

Reaves has essentially become a protagonist on a team competing for the biggest prize. And while that is a great thing for him, it also comes with added pressure and the vulnerability of being heavily scrutinized if things go badly.

“Austin Reaves is playing at a superstar level. But this is where he’s gonna be judged at. He’s gonna be judged on his playoffs,” said Pierce, on KG Certified.

“If he’s as good as he is right now… Because what we saw last year in the playoffs, people were like he’s not it. But to his credit, that was the first playoff to where he had the spotlight on him,” he added.

In 2025, the Lakers exited the playoffs in the first round, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1. Reaves averaged just about 16 points and was nowhere near as impactful as the team would have wanted him to be. Of course, he looks like a different player in the 2025-26 season.

James is no longer the main man for the Lakers. He might not even be their number two anymore. Doncic is pulling the strings, and Reaves is thriving in an incredible support role. And, as things stand, the franchise and its supporters are counting on him to sustain this level of play when they inevitably reach the playoffs in 2026.

“We gotta see what he does in the playoffs, because if the Lakers don’t re-sign him, somebody’s gonna give him that money,” Pierce added.

The Celtics legend believes that Reaves has what it takes to be a great number two or number three on a team aiming to win the championship. That is a valuable asset to have.

As of now, trade chatter around Reaves is quiet. But when February approaches, talks of an extension may begin to heat up.