Lakers’ Austin Reaves Reveals How LeBron Changed His Career

The Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has carved out one of the more unlikely success stories in recent NBA history.

Undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2021, Reaves joined a Lakers roster stacked with Hall of Fame talent. Most undrafted rookies fight for garbage time minutes. Instead, Reaves became a starter and is now playing at an All-Star level. Where most role players defer to the superstars, Reaves plays alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic as an equal.

However, the journey from nervous rookie to legitimate star did not happen overnight. In an interview with SLAM, Reaves revealed the exact moment when he stopped feeling overwhelmed and started feeling like he belonged.

Reaves Explains His First Practice With the Lakers

That Lakers roster featured some of the biggest names in NBA history. James was still playing at an MVP level. Russell Westbrook had just arrived via trade. Anthony Davis anchored the defense. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Rajon Rondo rounded out a veteran-heavy rotation.

Walking into practice that first day was intimidating. Reaves admitted he arrived at the gym early, and as the stars filed in one by one, the reality of the situation hit him.

“At first, I was super nervous,” Reaves said in an interview with SLAM. “I remember I was the first one in the gym the morning of the practice. Everybody started filing in and it was Bron, Russ, Melo, AD, Dwight.”

But once the drills started, something shifted. Basketball was still basketball. Reaves could play the game he had been playing his entire life.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

The Play That Made Reaves Believe

Reaves drove past Rondo during a scrimmage and threw a no-look pass to James.

James dunked it. The gym erupted. And just like that, the nerves disappeared.

“After that, it felt like the weight of the world was off my shoulders, and it was just time to play basketball,” Reaves said.

That play was significant because it showed Reaves could hold his own with the best players in the world. The right read came naturally. The ball went exactly where it needed to be. That one sequence validated everything Reaves believed about his own ability.

From that moment forward, Reaves stopped playing like an undrafted rookie trying to survive. Instead, he started playing like a Lakers guard with a legitimate role.

What Reaves Has Become for the Lakers

Reaves is having the best season of his career in 2025-26. He is averaging 25.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Furthermore, his ability to score, facilitate, and defend has made him indispensable. Head coach JJ Redick runs offensive sets specifically designed to get Reaves the ball in scoring positions. Defenses can no longer ignore him or treat him as a tertiary threat.

Reaves has also proven himself in the biggest moments. The game-winning shot against the Golden State Warriors last season showed his clutch gene. A game-winner against the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season proved it was no fluke. As a result, he has become one of the players the Lakers turn to when they need a bucket late in games.

Final Word for the Lakers

Austin Reaves went from undrafted rookie to Lakers star in five years.

That journey started with a no-look pass to LeBron James during his first practice. The nerves disappeared after that play, and Reaves has been playing with confidence ever since.

Built around James, Doncic, and Reaves now, the Lakers have one of the most dynamic offensive attacks in the league. Heading into the second half of the season, they are positioned to make a deep playoff run.

Reaves has proven he belongs. Playing alongside the best players in the world is no longer intimidating. Rather, the moment he realized that came during his first practice, when he threw a pass to James and felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders.

The confidence he gained from that first play continues to drive everything he does on the court.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins