• Austin Reaves opened up on becoming a meme as a rookie
• Reaves’ was mocked after a clip of him being confused at LeBron James giving him on-court directions
• James and Reaves are said to be extremely compatible players on the court and enjoy a strong relationship
The relationship between LeBron James and Austin Reaves on the Lakers is definitely a very special one, as both players seem to excel while playing with the other. This has allowed Reaves to not only find a spot in the rotation so early as an undrafted rookie but now become a core starter for the squad.
It wasn’t long ago when Reaves understood nothing of what James had to say before a play, spawning an iconic meme of the rookie making a confused face as James spoke to him. This meme became widespread and Reaves discussed it as the favorite meme on the internet regarding him.
“We had a timeout with like a minute, 45 left, we were like up 18 points so I didn’t know why we were still in the game. The coach was setting up a play and nobody was really listening, and I asked a lot of questions that year. I walk onto the court and I ask ‘Bron, ‘Yo, I’m just chilling, right?’ He was like, ‘Nah, you’re going here, here.’ I don’t know if he was f***ing with me or being serious, to be honest. I actually make that face a lot when I kind of confused but at the same time, I would like to think I’m not confused a lot.”
Reaves has gone from averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as a rookie to averaging 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his sophomore season.
The playoffs saw him take a larger leap, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists to end the season having secured a spot on the Lakers’ starting roster for the 2023-24 season.
Will Austin Reaves Lock Himself In As The Third-Best Laker?
In the LeBron James and Anthony Davis era, no player has emerged as a bonafide No. 3 option behind the two stars. Russell Westbrook was struggling far too much while players like Kyle Kuzma were traded away. D’Angelo Russell struggled to cope with the pressure in the playoffs. Reaves saw the opening and took it with both hands, likely getting a larger role in the Lakers’ offense in 2023-24.
Reaves has a very shifty game that allows him to confuse defenders like LeBron confused him in that iconic meme. He is masterful at drawing content and has a series of impressive layup packages that allow him to convert tough shots off drives. He has worked hard to get a long-term extension with the franchise and will definitely have a more featured role on the squad.
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