LOS ANGELES – For a while, Austin Reaves had reason to wonder if fate was keeping him from ascending to the starting lineup.

Twice, coach Frank Vogel had told him he was likely to start. The first time in November, Reaves was forced out of action by a hamstring injury for nearly three weeks. The second time in December – on the heels of his game-winning shot in Dallas – he was a late scratch due to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, and went on to miss seven straight games.

When Vogel came around again to tell him he would be a starter for the Lakers after the All-Star break, Reaves might have been a little spooked at what might befall him next. But the third time went as it should: The 23-year-old made his first career start, going 2 for 4 with 6 points and 3 assists.

Though the native Arkansan has a bit of an “aw shucks” demeanor, even he had to admit how much it meant to him.

“Not a lot of people thought I would be in this situation to begin with,” he said. “But to get the start was really icing on the cake so far. Hopefully I’ll have many more moving forward and a lot of years playing.”

While Reaves downplayed it, he also got a measure of redemption in a sequence guarding Reggie Jackson, who scored the winning basket on him back on Feb. 3. This time Reaves anticipated the spin moved and packed Jackson’s shot, then chased him down to pin him by the baseline.

Commented Reaves: “We were just trying to compete and do whatever it took.”

While an injury to Avery Bradley has opened up a starting spot for Reaves, one of the things Vogel likes about the 6-foot-5 guard is he’s not as vulnerable on defense as opponents seem to think. While Vogel said Reaves could improve, he also trusted the team’s lone rookie enough to start him again Sunday night against the Pelicans.

“He’s got great length and great feet and really hustles and toughness to play that type of role,” Vogel said. “So, I was pleased with his performance.”

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Reaves isn’t the youngest Laker, but it sticks out that he’s the only first-year player on a veteran roster. Still, he’s been largely accepted as one of the group: Rajon Rondo was the most concerned about giving Reaves so-called “rookie duties” like grabbing extra towels or making him go buy a candle for his hotel room on road trips. Since Rondo was traded, Reaves said most of his errands have dropped off, too.

Now Reaves just feels a part of things, in the same way he’s settled into the rotation. While he acknowledged that the rigors of an 82-game season were starting to wear on him physically, spending his break back in Arkansas gave him a recharge that he needed. On the court, he’s learning game-by-game.

“Earlier in the year, the length and the size and [the way] that these guys are able to move was really the main thing for me that I struggled with,” he said. “But getting to this point, you kind of get a rhythm, you kind of get a flow and a feel for that type of basketball and you really just got to settle down and figure out what few things you can do to be successful. Pick and choose situations to your advantage that will help you.”