Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has unveiled his personal all-time NBA starting lineup and placed himself in the backcourt alongside four former or current Lakers stars. Speaking on the podcast “Pardon My Take,” the Arkansas native chose Stephen Curry at point guard, kept himself at shooting guard, slotted Kobe Bryant at small forward, listed LeBron James at power forward, and rounded out the group with Shaquille O’Neal at center.
“Steph at the one, me at the two,” Reaves said. “It’s so much easier if I didn’t have to put myself in there because I would put Kobe at the two. We’re gonna go Kobe at the three, Bron at the four and Shaq at the five.”
The 28-year-old guard explained that the lineup reflects both his childhood admiration for Bryant and the firsthand experience of playing alongside James in Los Angeles. Reaves noted that guarding Curry during the 2023 Western Conference semifinals underscored the Golden State star’s value, while O’Neal’s interior dominance “feels like a cherry on top.”
This season will be Reaves’ first with the Lakers without James on the roster, signaling a new chapter for the franchise. The former undrafted rookie reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023 and is still seeking his first NBA championship.
Reaves also acknowledged past social-media posts in which he criticized James, saying he later brought up the issue directly with the four-time MVP after the old comments resurfaced during his rookie year.
Source: Lakers Nation
