Reeves Responds to James’ Departure

Is it better late than never? Perhaps that’s the question on everyone’s mind.

Austin Reeves has finally weighed in on the news that he and LeBron James will no longer share the court for the Los Angeles Lakers. More than a day after James announced his departure from the team, Reeves took to Instagram Stories to send his best wishes to his friend.

“Thank you for everything,” he wrote, alongside three photos of himself with James on the court. “Brother, see you on the golf course!”

It’s interesting how, back in January, Rich Paul stirred things up suggesting on his podcast that the Lakers might trade Reeves. So, it seemed notable that Reeves took a bit longer to acknowledge James’ exit.

There was quite a buzz around James’ representative, who expressed that the Lakers could be better off trading Reeves for Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. This did not sit well with many fans and sparked quite a controversy. Reportedly, Reeves’ agent, Reggie Berry, even had a discussion with Paul about these comments during a game.

James later clarified in an interview that Paul’s views didn’t necessarily reflect his own. “As I’m sure you all know by now, Rich is his own man and his statements do not directly reflect me or my feelings,” he remarked. “I hope people understand that.”

On Wednesday, Reeves, who spent the last five seasons with James, joined other Lakers in offering a heartfelt goodbye to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Notably, Luka Doncic described it as an honor to learn from James, while others like Jared Vanderbilt and Jackson Hayes also expressed their admiration on social media.

As for James’ future? It’s still a mystery. The Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves are all in the mix as frontrunners in the early days of free agency.