Austin Reaves, member of the Los Angeles Lakers, joins the podcast to talk about his adjustment to being a Laker, earning the trust of LeBron James, facing tough opponents in the NBA playoffs, being a fan of Kobe Bryant, his Team USA experience, learning from LeBron, and more. The hosts also discuss the Coach of the Year race, Clay Thompson's shooting improvement, concerns about the Phoenix Suns' roster, and their love for basketball and golf.
Austin Reeves reflects on his transition from a small-town life to playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and acknowledges the contrast between the two environments.
Reeves emphasizes the importance of earning LeBron James' trust and highlights the positive influence LeBron has had on his basketball career.
Reeves discusses the differences between FIBA basketball and the NBA, appreciating the physicality and complex offensive plays in FIBA while acknowledging the challenge of implementing similar styles in the NBA due to roster changes.
Deep dives
Playing for the Lakers and the Difference from Small Town Life
Austin Reeves discusses his transition from small-town life to playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. He emphasizes the contrast between the simplicity of his hometown and the fast-paced lifestyle of LA. He credits his upbringing for keeping him grounded and focused on basketball and golf, his two main passions. Despite the challenges and differences in the environments, Reeves expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to play for the Lakers and the friendships he has formed with his teammates.
Earning Trust and Respect from LeBron James
Reeves reflects on the process of earning the trust and respect of LeBron James, one of the greatest players in NBA history. While initially feeling like an outsider, Reeves gradually developed a genuine friendship with LeBron, built on their shared love for the game. He admires LeBron's professionalism, work ethic, and positive attitude. Reeves considers himself fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from LeBron and credits him as a role model for the dedication and focus he brings to every game.
Playing FIBA Basketball and NBA Style
Reeves discusses the differences between FIBA basketball and the NBA. He notes that FIBA basketball is generally more physical and emphasizes continuous actions and intricate offensive plays. In contrast, NBA games often rely more on one-on-one moves and high pick-and-rolls. Reeves appreciates the beauty of FIBA basketball and sees the possibility of incorporating some of its concepts into NBA offenses. However, he acknowledges that the constant roster changes in the NBA might make it more challenging to fully implement such a style of play.
Dealing with Illness during Games
Reeves recounts his experience of playing despite being sick during a game. He explains how he felt unwell before and during the game, dealing with symptoms like headaches, a runny nose, and overall body pain. Despite initially considering sitting out, Reeves decided to play and ended up performing well. He expresses his determination not to let his team down, even when facing challenging circumstances.
LeBron James' Competitive Stamina and Professionalism
Reeves highlights LeBron James' remarkable competitive stamina and professionalism. He admires LeBron's tireless work ethic and infectious energy on and off the court. Reeves describes LeBron as acting like an 18-year-old kid, always bringing positivity to the team environment. He acknowledges LeBron's ability to be a role model and praises his commitment to taking care of his body and setting an example for others.
Playing with Talented Young Players and Building Relationships
Reeves discusses his experience playing with talented young players during international competition. He values the opportunity to build real relationships with players like Mikal Bridges and Cam Reddish. Coming into the NBA as a relative outsider, Reeves appreciates the camaraderie and friendship he has developed with his international teammates. He considers this experience invaluable in creating connections and learning from each other both on and off the court.
We are so psyched to welcome in member of The Los Angeles Lakers, Austin Reaves. Austin was kind enough to give us 45 mins and we were able to cover so much. Without further ado... let's go. Topics include: JJ on the Coach of The Year race, Austin Reaves on adjusting to being a Los Angeles Laker, earning the trust of LeBron James, crushing the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs, facing Stephen Curry and The Golden State Warriors in the playoffs, being a fan of Kobe Bryant and hating on LeBron on social media as a teenager, facing the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, his Team USA experience at the FIBA World Cup and marveling Anthony Edwards, learning how to be a pro from LeBron, winning the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament and Austin's flu game final, breaking down his confused LeBron James meme, lots of golf talk and so much more.
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