LeBron James Details First Impression of Austin Reaves
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said he recognized guard Austin Reaves as an NBA-ready contributor the moment training camp began in 2021, calling the rookie’s ball-handling and ability to penetrate “something we were missing.”
During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, recorded after the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak ended in Detroit, James explained that Reaves’ craft off the dribble stood out immediately. “I grew up around plenty of players who fit traditional molds,” James noted, adding that Reaves moved with an unexpected fluidity that convinced the four-time MVP the undrafted guard would fit alongside him.
James said he made a point of encouraging Reaves from Day 1 of camp, telling the former Oklahoma standout he belonged in the league. That early confidence, James believes, helped Reaves evolve from a two-way contract signee to a player now averaging 25 points per game in his fifth season and poised for a maximum contract this summer.
Reaves, 26, has spent his entire career with Los Angeles and has become a primary focus on opposing scouting reports, according to James. “He isn’t the fastest or most athletic, yet he’s at the top of every team’s list of things to stop,” James said.
The guard’s emergence has been critical to the Lakers’ late-season surge, though Los Angeles’ recent run ended with Monday’s loss to the Pistons. After the defeat, Reaves said he appreciated his team’s resilience and physical play despite the setback.
Source: LakersNation.com
