Austin Reaves said he and LeBron James shared a hug in the Lakers’ locker room on their final night as teammates, a moment that still stands out to him as the two prepared for uncertain futures.
“I wasn’t a LeBron fan growing up. I was a Kobe [Bryant] guy,” Reaves said when asked about that night. “But then getting to know him as a human was one of the coolest things I’ve been able to experience.”
Reaves said he went into the offseason hoping they would both return to the Lakers. He also understood the financial and roster-building reasons that led James to leave Los Angeles and start over in Philadelphia. Reaves signed a four-year, $180 million deal to stay with the Lakers, while James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers.
James had embraced a co-starring role alongside Reaves and Luka Doncic, but Reaves said the move was a sacrifice for James rather than something he chose for himself. Free agency gave James a choice for the first time in eight years, and he chose to play elsewhere. On Tuesday, James posted 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in Philadelphia’s opening night win in New York.
Reaves said he and James still text often, and James recently sent him a pair of shoes. Still, Reaves misses him, and the Lakers have a major hole to fill.
“I never disregarded the basketball player he was when I was younger. I knew he was great, but then to full-circle being on the team with him, and then him giving me confidence every single day was incredible,” Reaves said. “It gave me a better outlook on judging people because he treated me the same from the day he met me when I was a two-way player, to when I call him right now. I think that’s what I miss the most.”
Lakers Look Ahead
Reaves is now the longest-tenured Laker, having been in Los Angeles for the last six seasons. Bronny James is next, entering his third season with the team, followed by Doncic, who has been in Los Angeles for 18 months. Jake LaRavia is fourth, in just his second season with the club.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the opening night game that it felt strange not seeing James on the other side. The matchup was familiar, marking the fourth time in six years the NBA has paired the two teams on opening night. Kerr’s rivalry with James runs deeper, dating to the four straight years Golden State faced James’ Cavaliers in the Finals.
“Those Finals will live in the history of both franchises forever,” Kerr said. “That was an iconic era for both teams. This is a new Lakers team, and a new Warriors team.”
Doncic Steps Into the Spotlight
On opening night, Doncic made a series of gestures on and off the court to take on a leading role. He ran a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times addressed directly to fans, offered free parking in a nearby lot, and provided free bike rides to the game.
“I know they work hard to get to the games, to get to the arena,” Doncic said afterward. “So I’ve always had something in me that I need to have that connection with the fans. So just trying to welcome them to the new season so that they know that we really appreciate the support.”
Before tip-off, Doncic grabbed a microphone and addressed the home crowd. “Hello, Laker Nation,” he said. “Thank you for supporting us. It’s the start of something new. It’s going to be a special season, so thank you for your support.”
Reaves said he could hardly believe what he heard. “I heard his voice and I was like, ‘What the hell’s going on?'” Reaves said. “There’s no way this is actually him.”
Doncic is known as a showman on the court but is generally soft-spoken and brief in public comments. Reaves said the gestures showed Doncic’s commitment. “It just shows that he’s bought in, he’s all-in,” Reaves said. “Even in Slovenia [where Doncic hosted the team] he paid for everything. When his heart’s somewhere … He’s going to take care of the community that he’s in, he’s going to take care of the people that’s around him.”
On the court, Doncic scored 28 points and handed out seven assists. He also helped new center Walker Kessler make history. Kessler made 12 field goals without a miss, the most by a Lakers player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969, and he recorded 10 dunks, the most in a game since Shaquille O’Neal had 11 in 2003.
Doncic’s best moment came with a half-court shot that beat the halftime buzzer. The play drew a sellout crowd to its feet and was the kind of performance that led James to dub him “Luka Magic.”
“I knew that was going up before I got it in my hands,” Doncic said, smiling. “I work on those.”
His style differs greatly from James’, but the responsibility they carry is the same. “The Lakers [are] one of the biggest organizations in the world, if not the biggest,” Doncic said. “It’s an honor to be the face of the franchise and I hope I can stay here a long time.”