The article discusses how Austin Reaves's leadership skills will be crucial for the Los Angeles Lakers' success in the 2026-27 season, despite Luka Doncic being the team’s star player. While Reaves has proven himself as a valuable asset with his scoring and playmaking abilities—averaging career-highs of 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game last season—he needs to step up in a leadership role within the locker room. His ability to create team chemistry through competitiveness and camaraderie is seen as indispensable for fostering unity among his teammates.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Lakers face an under-discussed challenge for their upcoming season: leadership beyond star player Luka Doncic. Austin Reaves, despite not being a traditional leader, is seen as a key figure due to his ability to connect with teammates like LeBron James and his deep likability within the team. Reaves' most critical role will be stepping into a leadership position rather than just contributing on the court with his sharp shooting and playmaking skills. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Reaves quickly won over players and media with his humor and respect for veterans like James. His relationship with Doncic is also noted, as they developed a close bond after Doncic's trade to the Lakers in February 2025, indicating Reaves' potential to influence team dynamics crucially.
Written for “Lakers Future Prospects” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
It’s hard to measure.
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It → ’ → ?
It won’t appear in box scores.
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It → appear → scores
It’s invisible yet omnipresent.
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It → ’ → ?
It’s leadership — and not from who you may think.
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you → ’ → who
While the Lakers are unequivocally Luka Doncic’s team, someone else’s voice needs to boom in the locker room in order for them to be successful.
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them → need → room
In order for the Lakers to be successful, Reaves needs to become a leader.
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Reaves → need → ?
The thing about Reaves is he’s deeply likable.
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he → ’ → Reaves
After the Lakers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021, he immediately won over reporters at media day by joking about his nickname “Hillbilly Kobe.”
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he → sign → nickname
As soon as he entered the Lakers locker room, he won over LeBron James.
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he → enter → James
Reaves would make bleating noises whenever James spoke to the media to imitate a goat (because James is considered one of the greatest players of all-time).
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James → make → time
James would shoot him a look and laugh.
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James → shoot → look
A similar thing happened after the Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.
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Mavericks → happen → February
Reaves and Doncic started lovingly teasing each other, interrupting one another during their on-camera interviews and trash-talking each other.
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Reaves → start → other
Their brotherly bond was so strong — on and off the court — that Doncic let Lakers’ brass know that they needed to retain Reaves when he opted out of his $14.9 million player option this summer.
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he → let → option
The Lakers went on to sign Reaves to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract ever for a player who went undrafted.
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who → go → player
His teammates respect him for his palpable competitiveness, but they also love him for the levity he brings.
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he → respect → levity
So much so that Warriors coach Steve Kerr brought up Reaves, unprovoked, when asked last season what characteristics he values most in a player.
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he → bring → player
“I coached him in the World Cup,” Kerr said of Reaves in April.
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Kerr → coach → April
“I watch the Lakers.
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I → watch → Lakers
You can tell that everybody loves playing with him.
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everybody → tell → him
He’s a competitor.
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He → ’ → ?
He loves the game.
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He → love → game
Hard to find those qualities all the time, frankly, especially for somebody who has a lot of skill.
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who → find → skill
Steph [Curry] you can find that.”
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you → find → that
Reaves took major leaps on the court last season.
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Reaves → take → court
In October, he had back-to-back 51-point and 41-point performances.
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he → have → performances
In a game against Denver in March, he purposely missed a free throw, caught his own rebound and then made a buzzer-beating floater, helping spark what would end up being a 15-2 run that month.
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what → miss → floater
Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49% shooting (36% from deep), 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season.
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Reaves → average → game
This season, his biggest focus needs to be growing his leadership the same way he has grown his game.
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he → need → game
See, Doncic is the type of guy who leads by example.
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who → see → example
He pours his heart out on the court.
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He → pour → court
But he’s not exactly a talker.
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he → ’ → ?
Reaves needs to assume that role.
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Reaves → need → role
He has had plenty of time to study for it.
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He → have → it
Reaves played alongside James for five seasons.
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Reaves → play → seasons
He saw how he managed a team.
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he → see → team
Now it’s up to him to become a vocal leader.
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it → ’ → him
Apparently, he has already begun assuming that role.
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he → begin → role
“Since the guys have been back, Austin has been the leader in the gym every single day,” Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said Thursday.
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Pelinka → say → operations
It’s a good sign.
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It → ’ → ?
…and 9 more, not listed.
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