Austin Reaves misses LeBron James, who left the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Lakers now face the task of filling a large gap. Reaves spoke about James before the Lakers opened their season against the Golden State Warriors, a 127-105 Lakers win.
Reaves and James shared a hug in the Lakers’ locker room after their final game together as teammates. Reaves recalled that he was not a LeBron fan growing up. “I was a Kobe [Bryant] guy,” he said. “But then getting to know him as a human was one of the coolest things I’ve been able to experience.”
Reaves had hoped both players would return to the Lakers this season, but he understood the financial and roster-building reasons behind James’s decision. Reaves signed a four-year, $180 million deal to stay with the Lakers. James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Sixers. James scored 14 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 7 assists in Philadelphia’s opening night win in New York on Tuesday.
A Friendship That Continues
Reaves said he never lost respect for James’s play, even as a young fan. “I never disregarded the basketball player he was when I was younger. I knew he was great, but then to full-circle being on the team with him, and then him giving me confidence every single day was incredible,” Reaves said. He added that James treated him the same way from the day they met, when Reaves was a two-way player, to the present. “I think that’s what I miss the most.”
Reaves and James still text each other often. James recently sent him a pair of shoes.
Doncic Steps Into the Spotlight
Luka Doncic has taken on a larger public role with the Lakers. He placed a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times addressed directly to fans. He also offered free parking in a nearby lot and free bike rides to the game. Before the game, he grabbed a microphone and greeted the home crowd. “Hello, Laker Nation,” Doncic said. “Thank you for supporting us. It’s the start of something new. It’s going to be a special season, so thank you for your support.”
Reaves was surprised to hear Doncic’s voice over the arena speakers. “I heard his voice and I was like, ‘What the hell’s going on?'” Reaves said. “There’s no way this is actually him.”
Doncic explained his gestures after the game. “I know they work hard to get to the games, to get to the arena,” he said. “So I’ve always had something in me that I need to have that connection with the fans. So just trying to welcome them to the new season so that they know that we really appreciate the support.”
Reaves said Doncic’s generosity extends beyond Los Angeles. “Even in Slovenia [where Doncic hosted the team] he paid for everything,” Reaves said. “When his heart’s somewhere … He’s going to take care of the community that he’s in, he’s going to take care of the people that’s around him.”
On the Court
Doncic scored 28 points and delivered 7 assists in the win. New center Walker Kessler also stood out. He made 12 field goals without a miss, the most by a Lakers player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969. Kessler also recorded 10 dunks, the most in a game since Shaquille O’Neal had 11 dunks twice in the 2003 season.
Doncic’s best play came at the end of the first half, when he hit a half-court shot to beat the halftime buzzer. The shot brought the sellout crowd to its feet. “I knew that was going up before I got it in my hands,” Doncic said, smiling. “I work on those.”
The Lakers now have a younger core. Reaves is the longest-tenured Laker, with six seasons in Los Angeles. Bronny James enters his third season with the team, Doncic has been in Los Angeles for 18 months, and Jake LaRavia is in his second season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the change before the game. “It’s weird not seeing him tonight and seeing him in a Sixers jersey last night,” Kerr said. The two teams had met on opening night for the fourth time in six years. Kerr also pointed to the four straight Finals Golden State played against James’s Cavaliers teams. “Those Finals will live in the history of both franchises forever,” Kerr said. “That was an iconic era for both teams. This is a new Lakers team, and a new Warriors team.”
Doncic accepts the weight of the franchise. “The Lakers [are] one of the biggest organizations in the world, if not the biggest,” he said. “It’s an honor to be the face of the franchise and I hope I can stay here a long time.”