Austin Reaves has admitted life at the Los Angeles Lakers will feel very different without LeBron James, saying: “I don’t know if I’ve honestly processed it yet.”
The guard was speaking publicly for the first time since signing a new four-year, $180 million contract extension with the Lakers, having initially agreed terms on a deal worth $185m before restructuring it to give the franchise greater financial flexibility.
“Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me,” Reaves said of James’ departure after eight seasons in Los Angeles.
“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.”
Despite signing the richest contract ever handed to an undrafted player in NBA history, Reaves arrived for media duties in Las Vegas wearing a backwards cap and golf shirt, appearing much the same player who fought his way into the league five years ago.
Reaves ready to step up
Reaves is expected to become one of the central figures of the Lakers’ new era alongside Luka Doncic following James’ exit.
“Luka,” Reaves said, “I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day.
“He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
Reaves had only just returned from competing in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, where he lined up alongside the likes of Stephen Curry, Ray Allen and Doc Rivers, before joining the Lakers’ preparations in Las Vegas.
There he met a host of new team-mates, including Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
“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.
Kessler is already a familiar face to Reaves after the pair represented Team USA together at the FIBA World Cup.
“He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun,” Reaves said of the 7-foot-2 center.
“Obviously, you see what he does basketball-wise and how he impacts the game. He’s good defensively, good in the pocket. Just a smart player.
“So I’m happy to have him on the team and get to play with him.”
Lakers upgrading roster
The Lakers will need those new additions to step up following a summer of major change.
Alongside James’ departure, Marcus Smart joined the Houston Rockets, Deandre Ayton moved to the Washington Wizards, Rui Hachimura signed for the LA Clippers and Luke Kennard joined the Phoenix Suns.
“Everybody knows it’s a completely different team,” Reaves said.
“There’s going to be different things asked of different people, and if that’s what JJ [Redick] and the staff asks of me, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”
Reaves has already shown his commitment to the franchise by taking slightly less money than originally agreed in order to help the Lakers improve the roster around him and Doncic.
“I wanted to be a Laker the whole time,” he said.
“We had that period from when the season ended until the first [of July] to get something done, and we figured it out before then.
“My heart was in L.A. the whole time.”
