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Austin Reaves talks about the time he 'didn’t belong on a basketball court'
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves has made a name for himself in the NBA as a solid third option. Last season Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, on 46.0% from the field.

Reaves may be a confident player now, but that wasn’t always the case. When he first joined the NBA, LeBron James had him doubting himself.

“The only time I ever thought that I didn’t belong on a basketball court was in training camp actually,” Reaves said. “We were just playing and Bron was being Bron, and I was just kinda like, ‘I don’t know if I can play to this standard.’ He hit like four baseline fadeaways, and I was just like, alright, there’s nothing I can do. It pissed me off.”

Reaves certainly found himself even after LeBron caused him to doubt himself. In the upcoming 2025-26 season, Reaves will be ready to take the leap that helps the Los Angeles Lakers become a major threat to win the NBA championship.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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