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Lakers Star Austin Reaves' Agent Responds to Reported Luka Doncic Rift

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 4:28 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers have been gradually reconfiguring their lineup ahead of the 2025-26 season... although 21-time All-Star power forward LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, seemed to muck up the works a bit with a divisive statement after James picked up his $52.7 million team option for next year, that seemed to suggest James could force a trade out of town as the Lakers prioritize younger superstar Luka Doncic.

L.A. has brought in frontcourt reinforcements, signing center Deandre Ayton and power forward Jake LaRavia to relatively team-friendly deals. The Lakers have also lost 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who departed in free agency for a four-year, $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets.

Without a starting-caliber center (their 2025 post-Anthony Davis starter, Jaxson Hayes, remains unclaimed in free agency), the Lakers still wrapped up the 2024-25 season with a 50-32 record and the Western Conference's No. 3 seed.

But L.A. fell in five quick games to the Minnesota Timberwolves during an embarassing first round playoff series encounter.

Even beyond James' latest shenanigans, rumblings emerged that both James and another Los Angeles star, Austin Reaves, supposedly do not enjoy playing with Doncic per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix.

I don't know if they trade him never said one way or the other. Just mentioned what I was told plain and simple and those who know me understand this info only comes from really good sources. Lebron and Reaves don't like playing with him and that LA would love to move on from… https://t.co/bBXIuyl7yz
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 3, 2025

Across 73 healthy contests last year, Reaves averaged a career-best 20.2 points on .460/.377/.877 shooting splits, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals a night.

After the Dallas Mavericks shipped Doncic to the Lakers in a midseason trade, the 6-foot-6 All-Star averaged 28.2 points on a .438/.379/.791 slash line, 8.1 boards, 7.5 dimes, and 1.6 steals a night in 28 healthy contests

Reaves' agent at AMR, Aaron Reilly,

Regarding the report that Austin Reaves doesn't like playing with Luka Doncic, Reaves' agent @AMRAgency had this to say:

"Austin has nothing but the utmost respect for Luka and truly enjoys playing alongside him. Any suggestion to the contrary is completely false. He’s excited…
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) July 3, 2025

"Austin has nothing but the utmost respect for Luka and truly enjoys playing alongside him," Reill said. "Any suggestion to the contrary is completely false. He’s excited to be on the court with Luka — both now and in the future."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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