Reaves admits Lakers life feels totally different with out LeBron James

Austin Reaves has admitted life on the Los Angeles Lakers will really feel very totally different with out LeBron James, saying: “I don’t know if I’ve truthfully processed it but.”

The guard was talking publicly for the primary time since signing a brand new four-year, $180 million contract extension with the Lakers, having initially agreed phrases on a deal price $185m earlier than restructuring it to provide the franchise better monetary flexibility.

“Beginning the season with out him being on the crew goes to be totally different for me,” Reaves stated of James’ departure after eight seasons in Los Angeles.

“He’s sort of all I’ve ever identified. Simply him being round, joking round, appearing like he’s 15.

“However that’s his resolution and … I acquired nothing however love and respect for him.”

Regardless of signing the richest contract ever handed to an undrafted participant in NBA historical past, Reaves arrived for media duties in Las Vegas carrying a backwards cap and golf shirt, showing a lot the identical participant who fought his means into the league 5 years in the past.

Reaves able to step up

Reaves is anticipated to change into one of many central figures of the Lakers’ new period alongside Luka Doncic following James’ exit.

“Luka,” Reaves stated, “I imply, he’s one in every of my greatest buddies on this planet. Speak to him nearly each single day.

“He sends me movies of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get higher, and I inform him I’m not a coach.”

Reaves had solely simply returned from competing within the American Century Championship superstar golf event in Lake Tahoe, the place he lined up alongside the likes of Stephen Curry, Ray Allen and Doc Rivers, earlier than becoming a member of the Lakers’ preparations in Las Vegas.

There he met a number of recent team-mates, together with Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili.

“The items which can be coming in, I’m very enthusiastic about and I’m joyful to get began as we speak and see the place it goes,” Reaves stated.

Kessler is already a well-known face to Reaves after the pair represented Staff USA collectively on the FIBA World Cup.

“He’s an enormous, goofy dude that simply enjoys life and has enjoyable,” Reaves stated of the 7-foot-2 middle.

“Clearly, you see what he does basketball-wise and the way he impacts the sport. He’s good defensively, good within the pocket. Only a good participant.

“So I’m joyful to have him on the crew and get to play with him.”

Lakers upgrading roster

The Lakers will want these new additions to step up following a summer time of main change.

Alongside James’ departure, Marcus Sensible joined the Houston Rockets, Deandre Ayton moved to the Washington Wizards, Rui Hachimura signed for the LA Clippers and Luke Kennard joined the Phoenix Suns.

“All people is aware of it’s a totally totally different crew,” Reaves stated.

“There’s going to be various things requested of various folks, and if that’s what JJ [Redick] and the workers asks of me, I’ll do it to the perfect of my means.”

Reaves has already proven his dedication to the franchise by taking barely much less cash than initially agreed with the intention to assist the Lakers enhance the roster round him and Doncic.

“I needed to be a Laker the entire time,” he stated.

“We had that interval from when the season ended till the primary [of July] to get one thing accomplished, and we figured it out earlier than then.

“My coronary heart was in L.A. the entire time.”