​Getting used to LeBron James’ departure will be quite an adjustment for the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season. Even at age 41, he does so many things at a high level that it will take an all-hands-on-deck effort to replace his skill sets.Perhaps the attributes of James that will be the hardest to replace are his leadership and basketball IQ. Austin Reaves, who just signed a four-year, $180 million contract to remain with the Lakers, will be called upon more than ever before to step up as a leader both on and off the court.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe talked about how different things will be for him without James by his side, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.”I don’t know if I’ve honestly processed it yet,” Reaves said of James’ decision to leave Los Angeles after eight years with the franchise. “Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me. He’s kind of all I’ve ever known. Just him being around, joking around, acting like he’s 15. But that’s his decision and … I got nothing but love and respect for him.”Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points, as well as 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game this past season. He has increased his scoring average every year since his second season in the NBA, and another bump in that statistic could be coming now that there will be more shots to go around without James.A few of the Lakers’ new additions — particularly guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton and big man Sandro Mamukelashvili — will also need to pitch in to replace the 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game James averaged last season.”The pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited about and I’m happy to get started today and see where it goes,” Reaves said.Reaves, 28, is entering the prime of his career and could’ve made the All-Star game several months ago had it not been for a gastrocnemius strain that sidelined him for several weeks at midseason. There is a bit of concern among Lakers fans about his durability and his playoff production (his scoring average fell substantially during the last two postseasons), but he looks poised to play a huge role in L.A.’s hopes of eventually winning its 18th NBA championship.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Austin Reaves on not playing alongside LeBron James anymore