Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has seen an increase in his turnovers over the first six games of the 2026-27 season. He is averaging 4.8 turnovers per game in 35.5 minutes. This is a 37.1% increase from the first six games of 2025-26, when he averaged 3.5 turnovers per game in 37.8 minutes.

Style of play

The increased turnover rate is related to his style of play. Over his first five-plus seasons with the Lakers, Austin Reaves has relied on the pick-and-roll to generate production.

He spent 27.4% of his offensive possessions in the play type, averaging 4.3 per game. During these possessions, he averaged 4.4 points, shooting 49.2% on 3 attempts per game. The offensive set accounted for 27.8% of his scoring output as he averaged 15.8 points per game over his first five seasons.

He has continued to use the pick-and-roll over the first six games of the 2026 season. He has used the play type in 30% of his offensive possessions, averaging 6.5 possessions per game. He is scoring 6.2 points and shooting 45.8% on 4 attempts per game.

Austin’s success in the offensive set depends on whether the defender assigned to the roll-man plays drop coverage. Drop coverage means the roll-man’s defender gives the ball handler space coming off the screen to protect the basket.

On October 26, 2025, Jared Vanderbilt came to the top of the key to set a screen for Austin Reaves with seven minutes left in the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis guarded Vanderbilt during the play. 

Sabonis started the possession at the three-point line. As soon as Vanderbilt started to roll toward the basket, Sabonis began giving up space to make sure Vanderbilt didn’t have a wide-open shot at the rim.

As a result, Austin had open space as he came off the screen to drive downhill. Austin ended up making a running jump shot from about the free-throw line.

How Hedge Coverage Is Disrupting Austin Reaves

However, the defensive coverage has shifted during the early stages of this season. Over the first six games, opposing teams have had the defender of the roll man meet Austin Reaves on the other side of the screen. This defensive coverage is called hedging and is primarily used to disrupt the pick-and-roll.

On October 28, 2026, Matisse Thybulle dribbled the ball up the court until he reached the three-point line. He then passed it to Austin Reaves, who was at the top of the key. 

Austin Reaves passed it to Walker Kessler on the left wing. Kessler held the ball until Austin Reaves came over; once Reaves was near, he passed it back. Austin Reaves used Kessler’s body as a screen and went over it.

Unfortunately, Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Jackson was on the other side of the screen. Austin Reaves picked up his dribble but lost control of the basketball, resulting in a turnover.

Austin needs to start developing a habit of passing the basketball to the roll man quicker when he sees the hedge. This may give the roll man an open lane to the rim for an easy basket.

If I am right, he could have a similar impact on his team by passing the ball instead of trying to score.