​Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James hugs Austin Reaves. Getty Images shows Reaves on the golf course with James as the news of James leaving the franchise spread across social media. The moment arrived during a Ryder Cup-style event at Pinehurst, organized by former teammate D’Angelo Russell, when Reaves’ girlfriend texted him the surprising update about James. He immediately checked social media to verify the report and then messaged the player who had played a pivotal role in shaping his first five NBA seasons.
“I texted him and I said, ‘I was having a great day on the golf course until you ruined it,’” Reaves recalled on The Dan Patrick Show during his appearance at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe. The joke was brief, and Reaves quickly pivoted to reflecting on James’ impact, describing the four-time NBA champion as the most influential teammate of his early career. “He’s probably had the biggest impact on my career since I’ve been in L.A.,” Reaves said. “Nothing but love and respect, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
The two had formed a standout bond since Reaves arrived in Los Angeles as an undrafted rookie in 2021. He wasn’t guaranteed a spot on the roster, yet he developed into one of the NBA’s most productive undrafted players while sharing the court with James for five seasons. The relationship began almost immediately. When asked how long it took to get James’ phone number, Reaves laughed and said, “I’m pretty sure I got it pretty quick.” James hosts an annual minicamp before training camp, and Reaves said he first connected with his future teammate through a group text ahead of those workouts. That experience underscored how surreal his NBA introduction had been.
“My rookie year, I was on a team with six Hall of Famers,” Reaves said. He recalled the flood of messages listing names like Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard, and thought to himself, “Holy … why am I here?” The uncertainty did not endure. Reaves steadily earned James’ trust, ultimately becoming one of the Lakers’ most reliable offensive players and a fixture in the starting lineup.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are charting a course forward after James decided to play elsewhere next season. The franchise is now concentrating on Reaves and Luka Dončić as its core, with an eye toward building around these two as the team’s foundational pieces. James’ departure marks the most significant organizational shift since Reaves entered the league, but the Lakers have signaled a renewed commitment to Reaves by signing him to a four-year, $185 million maximum contract. Dončić, who also figures prominently in the Lakers’ future, now stands at the center of the team’s long-term strategy and public profile.