Austin Reaves just dropped a bombshell about Luka Dončić’s early days with the Los Angeles Lakers, telling *Sports Illustrated* that after the surprise trade from the Dallas Mavericks, Dončić was “sheltered” and the two barely spoke. Can you believe it? Even though Luka got comfortable on the court fast, Reaves said the vibe off court was totally different initially.
The Silent Treatment After The Trade
Seriously, Reaves pulled back the curtain on how wild Dončić’s transition really was. He flat out said, “He was kind of sheltered.” Think about that, a superstar getting traded and basically going radio silent with a new teammate. Reaves elaborated, “For basically most of the rest of that year, we didn’t really speak to each other that much.” That’s some heavy stuff. Reaves figured Luka was just dealing with the trade and feeling disappointed, so he didn’t try to force a friendship. He let it build naturally, which, honestly, sounds pretty mature given the circumstances. The dude was clearly going through it, even if his on-court game didn’t miss a beat.
From Crickets To “Bromance”: How Luka Found His Groove
So when did things change? The article points to August 2025 as a likely turning point. That’s when Dončić committed to the Lakers, signing a massive three-year, $165 million extension. There was apparently some real concern within the Lakers about whether Luka would even stick around, so getting that deal done had to be a huge relief for everyone in the organization. Once that was squared away, everything shifted. During his first full season with the Lakers in 2025-26, Dončić and Reaves became super tight. People in the organization were calling their dynamic a “bromance,” built on a shared love of trash talk and teasing. And you could see it on the court too: Dončić absolutely balled out, averaging 33.5 points, his second-highest total in a single season, and 8.3 assists per game in 64 starts. That’s a dude who’s feeling comfortable, you know? Now, with LeBron James gone in free agency this offseason, there’s no doubt Dončić is the face of the Lakers franchise, with everything built around his game. To keep that good thing going, the Lakers even went and signed Reaves to a fat four-year, $185 million contract this summer. Gotta keep the bromance alive!
What’s next for this dynamic duo? Dončić, Reaves, and the Lakers kick off the 2026-27 regular season on October 21 against the Golden State Warriors. All eyes are gonna be on how this “bromance” continues to thrive and if Luka can lead his team now that the spotlight is entirely on him.
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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