LeBron James’ departure from the Los Angeles Lakers caught many by surprise, including Austin Reaves. The four-time NBA champion spent the last eight seasons with the franchise and forged strong bonds with his teammates.
He will continue his legendary career with a new team in 2026-27. The NBA world is awaiting his decision, but Reaves admitted that James “ruined” his day when the news broke.
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” I texted him and told him I was having a great day on the golf course until he ruined it,” Reaves said, via the California Post.
James and Reaves played five seasons together with Los Angeles. Their partnership started from Reaves’ rookie year in the 2021-22 NBA season until the 2025-26 campaign. They led the team to the playoffs twice, including in 2023 when the Lakers made the Western Conference Finals. The team defeated the Houston Rockets last season but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round.
What’s next for Austin Reaves and the Lakers?
Reaves signed a four-year, $185 million max deal with Los Angeles on June 24. It’s the biggest contract for an undrafted player in NBA history. The lucrative deal also showed how much the franchise believes in him and that it will continue to build around him and Luka Doncic.
Lakers president Rob Pelinka and the front office have retooled the roster. They signed Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and acquired Walker Kessler via a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz. The Lakers aim to have a deeper postseason run and become potential title contenders with Reaves and Doncic leading the way.
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