Austin Reaves, one of the rising stars of the Los Angeles Lakers, recently shared an interesting perspective on his relationship with LeBron James and how it evolved over time. Reaves, who is now a key player for the Lakers alongside James, hilariously admitted that he didn’t always admire the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. In fact, like many basketball fans growing up, Reaves once found himself “hating” on LeBron. Reaves made these revelations during an appearance on the “BustaJack Golf” podcast, where he explained how his perspective on James shifted.
“I’ve asked LeBron a lot of questions,” Reaves said. “More than he probably wants me to, to be honest. But when you’re playing with the greatest of all time, how do you not try to pick his brain?”
“I’ve asked him what he thought his greatest year was, not in terms of championships but in terms of peak athleticism, skill, and knowledge. For me, I think his best year was the year they lost to K.D. and Steph in the Finals. That was the year I finally stopped hating him.”
He noted that it wasn’t until James’ performance in the 2017 NBA Finals that he finally started to appreciate the greatness of the player he had spent years disliking. Reaves specifically pointed out James’ remarkable effort during that series, where the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against the Golden State Warriors, featuring superstars like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
Reaves’ admission speaks to a common sentiment among NBA fans. Many grew up either rooting for or against LeBron, given his dominance and the polarizing nature of his career. Reaves, like so many others, found himself in the latter camp during his younger years, as LeBron’s success often meant the downfall of other fan favorites, such as the Golden State Warriors during their rivalry with the Cavaliers.
What’s particularly interesting is that Reaves pointed to one of James’ losses as the moment he began to appreciate him. In 2017, despite ultimately losing to the Warriors in the Finals, James put on a historic display of skill, leadership, and sheer willpower, averaging a triple-double throughout the series. Even though Cleveland couldn’t overcome Golden State’s stacked roster, James’ effort left an indelible mark on Reaves and likely many others.
Now, as teammates, Reaves and James have built a strong relationship. Reaves frequently praises James’ work ethic and leadership, and the two players have developed a chemistry that has helped solidify the Lakers as contenders in the Western Conference. While Reaves may have once harbored disdain for James from afar, playing alongside the four-time champion has given him a newfound respect for the player he now considers one of the greatest of all time.
As Austin Reaves and LeBron James continue to lead the Lakers into the 2024-25 season, their growing partnership will be crucial to the team’s success. For Reaves, transitioning from a fan who once disliked LeBron to a teammate soaking up his knowledge has been an evolution that reflects the complexities of sports fandom and respect for greatness.
