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LeBron James says he’s ‘not surprised’ by Austin Reaves: 'Been telling y’all he can ball'

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By Titan Frey | Last updated Nov 29, 2025 1:35 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. It’s no surprise that Doncic scored 35, but Reaves’ 38 points, along with his play throughout the season, have caught most people off guard.

There is one person who isn’t surprised at all at Reaves’ level of play and that’s LeBron James.

“I told y’all how long ago that AR can f***ing play ball. When was he a rookie? Yeah, I’ve been telling y’all he can ball. It’s nothing. He’s great.”

LeBron has been finding his role since returning from injury. In four games, he’s averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, while shooting 49.1%.

The Lakers are currently second in the Western Conference with a record of 14-4, and they have won six consecutive games. They are a real threat to win the NBA title.

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

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