Life after LeBron: Austin Reaves embracing

LAS VEGAS — From the time Austin Reaves joined the Lakers in 2021 as an undrafted prospect, his basketball life centered around enjoying with a savant in LeBron James.

That no longer would be the case.

Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180-million deal, but James determined to transfer on as he prepares to play an unprecedented twenty fourth season.

Reaves was shocked when he heard about James’ resolution while enjoying golf in Lake Tahoe. Nearly two weeks later, Reaves says he still is attempting to course of the development.

“I kind of was thinking about it last night when I got here,” Reaves said Monday in his first news convention since re-signing. “Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me. He’s kind of all I’ve ever known. Just him being around, joking around, acting like he’s 15. But that’s his decision and like I said in Tahoe, anytime I’ve talked about it, I got nothing but love and respect for him and yeah, let’s play some golf soon.”

The contract Reaves signed was the richest in NBA historical past for an undrafted participant. At 28 and coming into his sixth season, Reaves wished to keep in L.A.

“I wanted to be a Laker the whole time. We had that period from when the season ended until the first [of July] to get something done and we figured it out before then,” he said. “My heart was in L.A. the whole time.”

Reaves will grow to be one of the de facto leaders of the Lakers along with Luka Doncic. The two once again shall be one of the most dynamic backcourts in the NBA.

“Obviously my relationship with the guys that were on the team last year,” Reaves said of why he wished to keep. “And then Luka. I mean, he’s one of my best friends on this planet. Talk to him almost every single day. He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better and I tell him I’m not a coach.”

The Lakers have overhauled the roster: All the gamers who began alongside Reaves in the playoffs last spring are gone. With the signing of former Brooklyn Nets ahead Ziaire Williams on Monday, the Lakers have eight new gamers, all of them arriving either via trades, free company or the draft.

“They’re good,” Reaves said of the strikes. “Obviously, I’ve been with the guys that are leaving for a couple years and with Bron for five years and I hate to see guys like that go. But the pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited about and I’m happy to get started today and see where it goes.”

One of those new gamers is Walker Kessler, a 7-foot-2 middle the Lakers felt match best around Doncic and Reaves because he’s a lob menace, rim-protector and good defender and is developing his three-point taking pictures.

The Lakers obtained him from the Utah Jazz in a commerce and then signed him to a four-year, $130-million contract. The Lakers despatched out two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round decide swaps (2028, 2030).

Kessler, who performed only 5 video games last season after having surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in his left shoulder, is conscious the Lakers paid a big price to get him.

“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said Monday in his introduction. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”

Power ahead Sandro Mamukelashvili may grow to be a fan favourite, in half because of the tattoo he has on his decrease left leg — a No. 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant.

Mamukelashvili, who signed a four-year, $52-million deal, averaged 11.2 factors last season with the Toronto Raptors and shot 52.3% from the sector, including 38.9% from three-point vary.

“I got a Mamba Mentality tattoo. I just love his mindset,” Mamukelashvili said. “Growing up, I used to always say, “Mah-moo Mentality!’ So, I know it’s a little far from each other. But we are getting closer.”

When guard Collin intimacyton, another new Laker, was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, James left and signed with the Lakers. When intimacyton signed a two-year, $19-million deal with the Lakers this month, James left again.

intimacyton may only snort about lacking out on enjoying with James.

“He’s just leaving every time I arrive,” intimacyton said, laughing. “That’s what it is. No, but one of the other coaches made the same joke yesterday. It’s cool, I know. I’ve always wanted to team up with him for sure, but it’s definitely cool knowing him and just having normal conversations and stuff, so that’s cool.”

intimacyton averaged 15.4 factors and shot 48.5% last season with Chicago and Charlotte. He’s prepared for whatever position coach JJ Redick and the Lakers need for him.

“They believe in me,” he said. “And I just feel like at the end of the day, whenever a coach believes in you and like he said, he’s going to be hard on me and yelling and screaming at me. So, I like that. I think that’s what gets the best from me.”