LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er, and the Los Angeles Lakers are already feeling the ripple effects. But for newly minted star Austin Reaves, it’s not just the King’s undeniable court skills that are missed; it’s the personal touch that hit harder. Reaves opened up to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, laying bare what truly stings about James’ departure, and it’s something every fan of the purple and gold needs to hear.
The Human Side of the King
Forget the highlight reel dunks or the game-winning passes for a second. What Austin Reaves is missing most isn’t on the stat sheet. “I never disregarded the basketball player he was when I was younger,” Reaves told Shelburne, “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.” How many legends are doing that, day in and day out? Not many, I’ll tell you. Reaves made it clear, that constant belief from James was game-changing for him, offering “a better outlook on judging people because he treated me the same from the day he met me when I was a two-way player, to when I call him right now.” Talk about consistency. Getting to know James as “a human was one of the coolest things” Reaves has experienced. That’s real talk right there, showing just how much the man meant to him beyond the court.
From Pupil to Pillar: Reaves’ New Role
While calling James a full-on “mentor” might be a stretch given LeBron’s relentless focus on chasing rings, the impact was undeniable. We all remember that 2022 clip of James dropping wisdom on a young, seemingly bemused Reaves. LeBron always took the chance to impart some knowledge on his younger guys. And that’s not even counting the sheer power of leading by example. You’re watching a future Hall of Famer every day, right? You’re going to pick up some habits, absorb that drive. Now, Reaves is a star in his own right, not just some kid soaking it all in. He dropped 23.3 points and 5.5 assists last season, earning himself a massive $184.8 million contract to stay with the Lakers. At 28, he’s not just a scorer, he’s basically the grizzled vet now, ready to dish out valuable insight to teammates trying to find their footing in the league. That’s a wild turnaround. James’ influence in Los Angeles, in that sense, will absolutely extend well beyond his actual tenure there, through guys like Reaves.
With James now gone, it’s Reaves, the 28-year-old “grizzled vet” himself, who’s got to pick up that mantle. He’s got the $184.8 million contract, the 23.3 points and 5.5 assists from last season, and now, he’s got to provide that same kind of steady, human leadership to the next crop of young Lakers. The King’s influence lives on, but now, it’s Austin Reaves’ team to truly lead. He’s got his work cut out for him, but something tells me he’s ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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