Austin Reaves reacts publicly to LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, with multiple reports describing Reaves’ emotional and lighthearted response. Reaves and James have been teammates since James joined the league in the 2010s and Reaves entered the NBA, spending their early Lakers seasons together. According to reporting cited across outlets, James’ agent announced that he will not return to the Lakers this summer, which sets up a transition for Reaves who signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the team this offseason.
Several accounts place Reaves’ first reaction in a golf setting, where he learned he would no longer be teammates with James. Reaves describes the moment as a mix of personal frustration and humor, including remarks that James “ruined” his day, along with a joke exchanged between the two after James’ departure. Other coverage emphasizes that Reaves views the change as an adjustment for both him and the team, as James’ presence and influence have been a constant during Reaves’ first Lakers years.
