Austin Reaves says his grandma almost came to his defense against LeBron James. Speaking with reporters, the Lakers guard shared a hilarious story about how his “mamaw” got upset after seeing James yell at him in practice and threatened to confront the NBA legend herself.
“You can go back at him, we’ve had a couple of instances where we went at each other. My grandma one day was so mad at him,” Reaves said on ‘Young Man & The Three.’ “She was like ‘If he yells at you like that one more time.’ I was like ‘mamaw it’s okay, your daughter has yelled at me way worse.’”
Reaves has found his role on the Lakers, but it doesn’t mean things have been totally smooth-sailing. Both James and coach Redick have set impossibly high standards for the franchise and the pressure couldn’t be higher. Still, Reaves can push back when he needs to and he’s not afraid to keep LeBron in check.
“In my rookie year, something happened and he was on my ass and I walked over to the iPad and I wasn’t anywhere in the wrong. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him what happened. He was like, ‘Oh, that’s my bad, my mistake,'” Reaves added. “So you can go back at him.”
Reaves joined the Lakers in 2021 and has risen to become one of their most essential players. With averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game last season, his play on the perimeter has been key to the Lakers’ recent success. Going into this season, he’s only expected to get better at 27 years old.
Alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves has ambitions to not only make a deep playoff run, but also cement himself as a star in the league. From day one, he’s been putting in the work and earning the respect of his teammates. When appropriate, he’s gone after LeBron at times, ensuring that everyone is held accountable and treated fairly.
By all accounts, Austin Reaves has earned his place on the Lakers and he’s learned how to thrive alongside some of the best players in the world. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do much to fix the looming uncertainty about his future.
With a $14.9 million player option next season, the Lakers guard is almost sure to opt out of his deal and pursue a new contract in 2026 free agency. His departure would be a major blow to the Lakers, but they’ve been unable to come to terms with him on a new extension. If they don’t pay up, they could easily lose Reaves to a higher bidder.
For now, the Lakers’ only focus is on maximizing this current season and they are in a good position for it. Their big three is healthy, coach Redick is getting more comfortable by the day, and the overall team chemistry has never been better this early into the season.
As for Austin Reaves, he has come a long way since joining the Lakers as an undrafted rookie. He’s gone from fighting for minutes to standing toe to toe with LeBron James and earning the trust of the locker room. That mix of confidence and humility is what’s made him so valuable to this team, and it’s a big reason why he’s become a fan favorite in Los Angeles. Whether he stays long-term or not, Reaves has proven that he belongs and he’s not backing down from anyone, not even LeBron.
