Luka Doncic Prefers Austin Reaves Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors, Reveals Insider

Luka Doncic reportedly told the Los Angeles Lakers he does not want Austin Reaves included in any trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Luka Doncic Prefers Austin Reaves Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors, Reveals Insider

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Luka Doncic prefers to keep Austin Reaves over trading him for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
  • Doncic and Reaves have formed a strong partnership, contributing to the Lakers' success.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks remains uncertain as trade rumors persist.

Los Angeles Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have formed a formidable partnership both on and off the court. When LeBron James was ruled out for the initial games of the season, the duo joined forces and formed one of the best offensive backcourts in the league.

Till the trade deadline this year, there was a lot of noise surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future with the Milwaukee Bucks. While several teams were interested in him, no move materialized in the end. However, it is likely that the Greek Freak will be on his way out in the offseason this year, and the Lakers may be one of the teams looking to acquire him.

NBA Insiders, Dan Woike and Sam Amick, have reported that Doncic wants Reaves to stay and doesn’t want him to be included in any trade package for Antetokounmpo.

Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Doncic told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Doncic, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire.

According to a report in The Athletic

Luka Doncic was unable to help his team in the playoffs this year due to a hamstring injury. Without the services of the Slovenian, who has played at an MVP level this season, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.

It has been a difficult 2025-26 campaign for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. For most of the season, there were reports that his time with the club was coming to an end, as he submitted a trade request. In the end, he did stay, but it led to more complications as he made just six appearances after the All-Star break.

A player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber can definitely shift the needle of whichever team he joins. However, Doncic wouldn’t mind the Greek joining his team, but not at the cost of Austin Reaves.

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Fans react to Luka Doncic not wanting Austin Reaves in a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo

While the Bucks had a poor 2025-26 campaign, missing even the Play-In spots, Giannis Antetokounmpo still posted impressive numbers. He was restricted to just 36 appearances this season; however, he will want to compete for a championship next year, and it is highly unlikely the Bucks can build a squad capable of competing any time soon.

Luka Doncic’s demand to keep Austin Reaves, even if it meant that he could play alongside Antetokounmpo, could be a surprise to many. NBA fans were quick to react to Doncic’s preference of Reaves over the Greek forward.

It remains to be seen how the Lakers approach after Doncic’s demand. But the Slovenian believes he can compete for a championship with Reaves as his number two option.

Austin Reaves is coming off his best season in the NBA

There is no doubt that Austin Reaves has been the biggest surprise for the Lakers this season. Alongside Doncic, Reaves elevated himself as one of the best scorers in the league early in the season. His performances were so impressive that he was even named in the top 10 of the MVP Ladder before he got injured.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have developed a good relationship
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have developed a good relationship (Image via Basket USA/X)

While his scoring did take a dip with LeBron James in the lineup as well, he turned out to be a viable secondary scorer for the Lakers this season. He averaged the most points in his career as he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 51 appearances.

Reaves even set a career-high this season without Doncic and James in the lineup as he scored 51 points against the Sacramento Kings in October. He did not have a great postseason this year, as he suffered an injury towards the end of the regular season as well. But it looks like he is here to stay, as Doncic believes in his ability.

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