Austin Reaves is preparing for a new chapter with the Lakers, but one part of the upcoming season isn’t fully in place yet.
For the first time in his NBA career, Reaves will play a major role without LeBron James as his teammate after the four-time MVP ends his eight-year run in Los Angeles to begin the next phase of his free agency career.
Reaves admitted that the reality of James’ departure is still a mystery, speaking to reporters at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
“I don’t know if I’ve considered it honestly,” Reaves told reporters, including ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Starting the season without him in the team will be different for me. The thing I know is that he is always there, joking, pretending to be 15 years old.”
James’ exit marks a big change for the Lakers, who now have Luka Doncic and Reaves after committing to the guard with a massive four-year, $185 million contract this offseason.
The transition could be facilitated by Reaves’ relationship with Doncic, which has become one of the closest on the roster.
“He’s one of my best friends in the world,” Reaves said of his friendship with Doncic. “I talk to him almost every day. He sends me videos of his golf game and asks me what he can do to get better and I tell him I’m not a coach. …”
The Lakers also reshaped the roster around their new core, adding Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton as they look to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture without James.
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