Austin Reaves praised LeBron James as the smartest player he's ever played with, highlighting LeBron's selfless play and ability to adapt to what the team needs. Reaves emphasized how LeBron leads by example, sets screens, crashes the boards, and adjusts his game to help the Lakers win, even when key teammates are missing.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to roll this season, and much of the credit for their success goes to the leadership of LeBron James. But this time, it's teammate Austin Reaves who is speaking out about how special LeBron is on and off the court.
Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves
MIN: 33.73
PTS: 23.85 (62.15%)
REB: 4.78
AS: 5.5
ST: 1.08
BL: 0.35
TO: 3
GM: 40
After LeBron returned from a three-game absence due to injury, the Lakers faced the Chicago Bulls. While Luka Doncic and Reaves themselves put up big scoring nights, it was LeBron's selfless play and basketball IQ that caught Reaves' attention.
"He's one of the smartest guys to ever play the game of basketball," Reaves said in a post-game interview. "His ability to adapt and to figure out what the game needs is second to none. Like you said, he was in a couple ball screens where he got behind the defense, was able to finish. Got a couple offensive rebounds, I think one for an and-1. When you got a player of that stature who's willing to play the way the game needs him to play, that just shows how selfless he is and just is a leader by example for everybody in this locker room."
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect-SCANPIX
Reaves highlighted how LeBron adjusts his game depending on the team's needs, sacrificing his own stats to make the Lakers better.
Even in lineups missing defensive leader Marcus Smart and key big men Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber, LeBron handled the extra responsibility with ease, setting screens, attacking the glass, and running the offense efficiently.
Currently, LeBron is averaging 21.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists this season while shooting 50.5% from the field. The Lakers are 41-25, holding fourth place in the Western Conference.
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