The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had many positives so far this season, but Austin Reaves has been a bright light.

Reaves, an undrafted rookie in 2021, has missed 11 games after suffering a hamstring injury. Before the injury, however, he had became a rotation player.

The 23-year-old guard, nicknamed “Hillbilly Kobe,” doesn’t light it up in the box score, but he does whatever is necessary to win games. His type of play is extremely reminiscent of Alex Caruso, who left this summer to the Chicago Bulls.

Both Caruso and Reaves entered the NBA as undrafted players, though Caruso’s story is way more complicated than Reaves’. Caruso had to go through the summer league and G League before getting a stable shot with the Lakers.

The Lakers initially signed Reaves to a two-way deal but converted his contract to a guaranteed deal after he impressed in the summer league and preseason games.

Caruso recently discussed how he’s been impressed by Reaves’ play, via Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype:

I’ve seen a little bit! It’s apparent now – I didn’t realize this when I was on the Lakers – but social media shows all of the Lakers highlights. (Laughs) I didn’t think that was true until I got another team. But he appears to be one of those good glue guys that winning teams need. I think he’s a lot farther along than I was during my first year in the league. I think we have the same mindset of getting better and working hard. Hopefully, he can stick around.

Reaves has arguably been one of the Lakers’ best players this season despite missing more than half of the possible games. He is off the injury report now, so Los Angeles has to gradually insert him into the rotation again because of his fit with LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.