“I was shi**ing on you back in 2012” – When Kobe Bryant’s fan Austin Reaves POKED LeBron James
The Unlikely Friendship Between LeBron James and Austin Reaves
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LeBron James and Austin Reaves (image via Getty Images)
Austin Reaves has had a fantastic basketball career, going from posting LeBron James memes on Facebook as a teenager to becoming a key player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Reaves was not selected in the 2021 NBA draft, but the Lakers offered him a two-way contract, where he caught the eye of superstar LeBron James.
Despite coming from a modest background, Reaves made an immediate impression on the court and helped the Lakers move up the standings, from 13th in the Western Conference to seventh, after he returned from a hamstring injury on February 7. Reaves improved from his 10.8 point average in the 36 games before his injury to 17.6 points in the 23 games following the All-Star break.
Reaves maintained his impressive play in the Lakers’ first-round playoff matchup with Memphis, scoring 16.5 points per game on 44.7 percent of his field goals and 34.4 percent of his three-point attempts. Reaves scored 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and added four assists in the crucial Game 4 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, giving the Lakers a 3-1 series lead.
“I called Bron over and was like, ‘Look, I was s—-ing on you back in 2012. I was a Kobe fan,’“ Reaves said. “[James] just laughed it off.”
Despite his success, Reaves remains grounded and credits much of his development to his mentor, LeBron James. James recognized Reaves’ talent early on and took him under his wing, watching films of him from his days at Oklahoma and offering words of encouragement and advice.
The odd connection between Reaves and James has grown both on and off the court, and Reaves believes that James’ advice and encouragement helped him develop into the player he is today.
Related: Where did Austin Reaves go to college?
The bond between Austin Reaves and LeBron James
LeBron James and Austin Reaves developed a close relationship based on their shared love of basketball and their distinctive personalities, despite coming from quite different backgrounds and being in various stages of life.
Reaves grew up on a farm in Newark, Arkansas, surrounded by over a hundred cows, while James was raised in Akron, Ohio, and became a basketball phenom at a young age. But despite these differences, the two players have found common ground in their passion for the game and their desire to succeed at the highest level.
James has taken Reaves under his wing, offering him guidance and advice both on and off the court. Reaves has responded by working hard and developing into a valuable player for the Lakers, earning the respect and admiration of his superstar teammate.
“I think it really formed from there,” Reaves said. “He’s this guy who is the greatest player of all time, this, that and the other. But at the end of the day, he’s a human who does human things. He’s hilarious, jokes around a lot. Our personalities mesh together.”
Their bond extends beyond basketball, as well. Reaves describes James as “hilarious” and someone who “jokes around a lot,” and their personalities mesh well together despite their differences.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)