Guard Austin Reaves said his close relationship with Luka Doncic was a key reason he chose to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.
“Luka, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. I talk to him almost every single day,” Reaves told reporters while explaining why he remained committed to Los Angeles during free agency. Reaves added that Doncic regularly sends him videos of his golf swing and asks for feedback.
The 25-year-old cited the Lakers’ front office, coaching staff and locker-room chemistry—highlighted by his bond with Doncic—as factors that kept his “heart with the Lakers.”
Reaves and Doncic formed the NBA’s highest-scoring duo last season, a partnership the club hopes to extend with a revamped supporting cast. Both players dealt with injuries during the regular season and playoffs and are expected to enter the new campaign determined to push Los Angeles back into championship contention.
With LeBron James no longer on the roster, the Lakers will lean more heavily on Reaves and Doncic for leadership. Doncic has already scheduled a four-day minicamp for the entire team in his native Slovenia as part of the pair’s efforts to set the tone before training camp.
Reaves agreed to his new contract shortly after the Lakers completed their offseason priority of adding a center, ensuring that the backcourt tandem will stay intact for the foreseeable future.
Source: LakersNation.com
