LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er, and that massive exit means Austin Reaves is about to face the biggest challenge of his career. The Los Angeles Lakers had an eventful offseason, to say the least. While Mark Walter selling the organization in the biggest deal in NBA history and moves to build around Luka Doncic made headlines, nothing compares to losing a legend. LeBron, at 41, signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, chasing one final championship run. His departure wasn’t a shocker, as the relationship between him and the Lakers was reportedly fading.
The King is Gone, But The Conflict Remains
LeBron James was the cornerstone of the Lakers for nearly a decade, so his exit is huge. What’s wild is that reports indicate part of the reason for the fading relationship was an “internal conflict” for James. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin broke the news about LeBron signing, but The Athletic’s Law Murray later revealed that James was frustrated having to defer to Reaves as the team’s second option, even while acknowledging Luka Doncic was the top dog. Imagine being LeBron and feeling like you’re deferring too much to your team’s second option. That’s a real locker room dynamic that had to be addressed, and now it has been, just not in a way Reaves might appreciate.
Austin Reaves’ Shot Problem Just Got Way Worse
Even with all that internal friction last season, Austin Reaves still took an overall leap. But now, with James gone, Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts is sounding the alarm: Reaves’ production could absolutely dip. Watts points out that the Lakers know Reaves struggles with contested and pull-up 3-pointers. Without LeBron consistently creating open looks, Reaves, now solidified as the number two option, will be forced to take way more of these “problematic looks.” Last season, his 3-point percentage was already the second-lowest of his career, sitting right on the league average of 36 percent. If Watts is right, that percentage is only going to drop further in this expanded, more challenging role.
Reaves has never had to generate offense and create open looks entirely by himself in his career. Playing alongside one of the greatest players ever meant a constant stream of opportunities. Now, that safety net is gone. The biggest adjustment for Reaves will be figuring out how to consistently get his own shots and set up others without James drawing all that attention. If he can’t adapt, his numbers are definitely going to take a hit. It’s going to be fascinating watching him navigate this new reality.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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