Even though he’s no longer playing alongside LeBron James, Lakers guard Austin Reaves carries a significant lesson from their time together. Reaves is now the longest-tenured player on the Lakers following James’ move to the 76ers during the recent offseason. The two were teammates for five seasons, from 2021 to 2026.
Reaves’ journey began when he went undrafted in 2021, but James became a mentor after the Lakers signed him to a two-way contract. Just before the training camp of the 2021-22 season, Reaves transitioned to a standard NBA contract with the Lakers.
When it comes to games played alongside James, only Anthony Davis (296 games) surpassed Reaves (284 games) during James’ eight seasons in Los Angeles. The experience Reaves gained from playing with James highlighted what it takes to maintain health and availability throughout an entire season—something he’s keenly aware of now that he’s stepping up as a key player behind superstar Luka Doncic.
“One of the biggest things I learned from LeBron was what he did every single day to give [himself] the opportunity to still play this game at the highest level,” Reaves shared. “There’s a lot more that goes into it than the casual fan sees. You have to do more every single day, especially the older you get. He’s a perfect example of that.”
Indeed, James’ ability to maintain longevity in the league is remarkable. He holds numerous records, such as the most regular season games played (1,622) and most playoff appearances (302). Remarkably, he enters his 24th NBA season after helping lead the Lakers to a first-round playoff series win last spring.
Reaves aims to embody this commitment to health; he will work with a personal trainer this season, Ed Streit, who previously served as the Lakers’ strength and conditioning coach. Streit had a stint with the Bulls before joining the Lakers in 2019 and was promoted ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“I’ve had a really good summer,” Reaves mentioned, hinting at his preparations for the upcoming season. The Lakers are counting on Reaves not just for his skills but for increased durability, especially after his four-year, $180 million contract with the team.
Last season, although he played at an All-Star caliber, Reaves struggled with injuries, participating in only 51 games. He faced a Grade 2 left calf strain that sidelined him for quite some time, as well as an oblique strain that kept him out of the last few games of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
He did manage to return for the closing games of the Lakers’ playoff run before they were eliminated in the second round by the Thunder. Improved health could be crucial for Reaves, especially since injuries have affected his performance in the playoffs the last two years.
During the playoffs, he averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds, though he struggled with shooting, posting 40.7% from the field and only 25.7% from three-point range. The previous year saw him averaging 16.2 points, while still recovering from a toe injury during the Lakers’ first-round loss to the Timberwolves.
