Austin Reaves reflects on his bond with LeBron James, calling him the greatest player ever and expressing gratitude for the mentorship and trust he’s received.
Austin Reaves recently reflected on his relationship with LeBron James during an event in Manila, Philippines, where he was introduced as the newest ambassador of ArenaPlus. Speaking candidly about his bond with the NBA superstar, Reaves expressed immense gratitude and admiration.
“Someone that I looked up to and for LeBron, I mean, in my opinion, he’s the greatest player ever. And for him to treat me the way that he treats me since day one has been very special for me. It’s been nothing but love. I’ve been able to pick his brain on the stuff that he does to be prepared, take care of his body.”
“He’s 39 and going to year 22, but still doesn’t look like he’s slowing down any time soon. So, you know, it’s very special for me to have him as a teammate, and obviously, he as well. Just, you know, I cherish all of that stuff.”
Entering his fourth year with the Lakers, Reaves has formed a significant rapport with LeBron, which speaks volumes about his growth and the trust he has earned. LeBron’s faith in Reaves was particularly evident during the 2023 Playoffs, where Reaves played crucial minutes in the fourth quarter, notably delivering an outstanding performance in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Reaves’ journey from being an undrafted player to establishing himself as a key component of the Lakers lineup is remarkable. His hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, especially by a veteran like LeBron James.
Reaves has embraced the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest, soaking in LeBron’s wisdom on preparation and maintaining peak physical condition. At 39, LeBron continues to defy age, setting an example that Reaves keenly follows.
As Reaves continues to develop, his relationship with LeBron remains a cornerstone of his career. The mentorship and trust LeBron has extended to Reaves are not just testaments to Reaves’ talent but also to his resilience and commitment to the game.
Now recognized as the third-best player on the team behind LeBron and Anthony Davis, Reaves’ rise is a story of perseverance and the power of having the right guidance. His gratitude and respect for LeBron highlight a genuine bond that goes beyond the court, promising a bright future for the young star.
Austin Reaves Spoke On His Development As A Player And Playing Under JJ Redick
During the same event in Manila, Philippines, Austin Reaves spoke with Nicole Ganglani of Silver Screen and Roll, the SB Nation blog for the Los Angeles Lakers, about his development as a player over the last 12 months. Reaves highlighted the impact of his time with Team USA on his growth and confidence.
“Having the opportunity to play for the USA team gave me a boost of confidence,” Reaves said. “And then obviously coming over here and playing well, and obviously we fell short of what we wanted to do, which was win gold.”
“But for me to just have that experience and kind of have the opportunity to play for the USA team gave me a boost of confidence and just a higher belief in myself to just continue to take my game to another level.”
“And obviously put in the work year-round and summers putting in the work. So yeah, I think being here 12 months ago was one of the most boosts for my confidence that I’ve ever had.”
I asked Austin about how he feels his game has grown in the last 12 months, specifically since his last visit in Manila. Here’s what he had to say: pic.twitter.com/xsiIyPnkT4
— Nicole Ganglani (@nicoleganglani) August 3, 2024
Reaves was part of the Team USA squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which ended disappointingly as they were knocked out in the semifinals and failed to clinch third place. This setback partly motivated LeBron James and other top NBA superstars to come together for the 2024 Paris Olympics, creating one of the greatest teams of all time for Team USA, which is currently dominating.
Reaves also shared his thoughts on the Lakers’ offseason moves and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete for a championship. He emphasized the importance of having JJ Redick as their new head coach.
“I like where we’re at. I think that we have what we need to go compete for a championship. You look back at the Denver series last year, and I forget the statistics, but I think we led for like 165 out of the 240 minutes, which is crazy. We got beat 4-1, which you can’t even really wrap your mind around.”
“Just a couple of sequences down the stretch that we didn’t execute, and they executed. If we do, we beat them in that series, and we go on and have an opportunity to play Minnesota. So I like where we’re at. And then obviously getting JJ, as I was talking about, someone that’s a fierce competitor.”
“We saw him in Vegas for Summer League, and he came up to us and was like, ‘I’ve been staring at a whiteboard for three hours trying to figure out how we’re going to do this stuff.’ So you can just tell the intensity that he has, and you know the time that he’s going to put in.”
Also asked the Lakers guard about the Lakers’ moves this summer (or lack thereof) and he said that he believes the Lakers have enough to compete for a championship. Reaves also talked about why he’s excited to play for JJ Redick. pic.twitter.com/m5dUqP731Y
— Nicole Ganglani (@nicoleganglani) August 3, 2024
Reaves’ reflections underscore his growth and the high expectations he has for himself and his team moving forward. As Reaves continues to develop his skills and build on his confidence, his role with the Lakers will be crucial in their quest for another championship.
With the guidance of JJ Redick and the support of seasoned teammates like LeBron James, the future looks promising for Austin Reaves and the Lakers.