TITLE: Austin Reaves Applauds LeBron James’ Passing and Energy in Season Debut
SLUG: austin-reaves-applauds-lebron-james-passing-season-debut
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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James returned to the court Sunday night and steered the Los Angeles Lakers to a win over the Utah Jazz, recording 12 assists, 11 points and only one turnover in 30 minutes at Crypto.com Arena.
James’ first appearance of the 2025-26 campaign ended concerns that his presence might slow the progress of teammates who had flourished without him. Guard Austin Reaves, who has emerged as the club’s primary scoring option during James’ absence, finished as the Lakers’ second-leading scorer with 26 points on 11 shots and praised the four-time MVP’s impact.
“I think he had 12 assists and one turnover—pretty good,” Reaves said postgame. “He plays the game the right way. Yesterday he talked about getting his lungs back, and he looked good. He was getting up and down the floor well.”
James acknowledged before the contest that his conditioning remains a work in progress but showed little fatigue while becoming the first player in NBA history to appear in a 23rd season. Reaves, 25, admitted he cannot imagine matching that longevity.
“If you told me to play 23 years—there’s absolutely no way,” Reaves said. “Every day he walks in, he’s the happiest person to be there. He’s got a smile on his face, acting like a 12-year-old kid having fun, and that brings life to everybody in the locker room.”
James reiterated after the game that improving his fitness is a priority but expressed satisfaction with his performance in the opener.
Source: Lakers Nation
