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"He wants that responsibility" - LeBron James breaks down Austin Reaves' rise to (super)stardom
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- "He wants that responsibility" - LeBron James breaks down Austin Reaves' rise to (super)stardom
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the big question surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers was how Luka Doncic and LeBron James would mesh in their second season together. After all, they are two ball-dominant guys who had gotten used to having the ball in their hands to either score or make plays for their teammates.
However, fate has a weird way of shaping things for the Lakers. As James suffered sciatica, which sidelined him for several weeks, somebody had to pick up the slack. And that somebody turned out to be Austin Reaves , the young and undrafted shooting guard from Newark, Arkansas.
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While some players might wilt under the pressure of L.A.'s bright lights and the pressure that comes from the Purple and Gold's ardent fandom, Reaves' spectacular play this season has many thinking he was born for this. Averaging 28.4 points on 50.9 shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, he has entrenched himself as the team's second-best player, dislodging James.
On the "Mind The Game" podcast, LeBron expressed that he's not surprised with how well Austin has played, saying he had been building up to this moment for several years.
Reaves' confidence has been off the charts
Reaves' nickname is Hillbilly Kobe for a good reason. As incredible as his skills are, his attitude and approach remain low-key and humble.
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However, don't ever make the mistake of thinking that Reaves doesn't believe he's capable of being THE man in the league because he definitely does.
"I just think AR has picked up exactly where he left off. The confidence… he's also healthier this year than he was last year. I know he sat out a couple of games this year, but last season he dealt with a toe issue late in the year," LeBron said . "He came into this season much healthier, but more importantly, with the confidence that his role would continue to grow — more usage, more responsibility."
With James set to turn 41 at the end of the year, the Lakers knew their chances of making a deep postseason run were slim if they continued to lean on the aging superstar. Fortunately for them, the player they had been looking for was right under their noses all along.
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Ready for the responsibility
The NBA is a very fluid league where the tide can shift at any moment. Reaves, though, was more than ready to get wet when the Lakers handed him the ball and asked him to be one of the team's playmakers outside of Doncic.
Showing that he was up to the challenge, he has delivered one memorable performance after another, from his near-triple-double 51-point outing against the Sacramento Kings to hitting the game-winning floater versus the Minnesota Timberwolves .
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"He's not just one of the guys. He's one of the guys on our team, and he wants that responsibility. So, you know, I think the coaching staff and JJ knew it wasn't far-fetched to give him more responsibility. And he's taken full advantage of it," James said.
LeBron added that outside of golf, Austin is a hooper through and through.
"The guy plays golf and he plays basketball. That's him. He puts the work in, he goes to the golf course to clear his mind, and then he plays basketball to clear his mind," he said. "He's just a great dude, man. I'm so happy for all the success he's had so far in his career."
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Although the Lakers still have a few issues to address, such as their defense and depth, not many teams can say they already have a solid foundation with two superstars leading the way. With James' veteran leadership and Doncic and Reaves' youthful exuberance, they are poised to make some noise this season.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
