Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) react against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.image captionLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) react against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) react against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
Back in 2021, Austin Reaves was just another draft hopeful, grinding his way through workouts, trying to make a name for himself ahead of the NBA Draft. He didn’t have the flashy lottery hype or viral mixtapes, but he had the belief—and as a now-viral Reddit AMA shows, he also had foresight.
During a Q&A session with fans, Reaves introduced himself: “Hi, I'm Austin Reaves, former Point Guard for the Wichita St. Shockers and Oklahoma Sooners. AMA.”
A fan then jokingly asked if he could help Luka Doncic, the young phenom who was already making headlines in Dallas. Reaves didn’t flinch: “Yes, I believe that I can help anybody! Plus check my resume, I do well in Dallas.”
Then, when another fan teased him for talking about himself in third person, Reaves flipped it with humor and respect: “It’s Luka… He should do that lol.”
Fast-forward four years later, and not only are Reaves and Luka Doncic teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, but they're lighting up the league together as one of the most effective backcourt duos in the NBA.
It’s rare that a lighthearted comment from a draft prospect ages like prophecy, but Reaves’ belief in himself and admiration for Doncic couldn’t have aged better.
Since being paired with Luka following the blockbuster trade that sent Doncic from Dallas to Los Angeles, Reaves has flourished.
The chemistry between them has developed quickly, as evidenced by their standout performance against the Phoenix Suns earlier this month. Luka posted 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Reaves dropped 28 points, six assists, and a block, helping the Lakers take down a star-studded Suns squad. The duo combined for 61 points and outperformed the Durant-Booker-Beal trio, which only managed 44.
Speaking after that game, Reaves gave credit where it was due:
“On-court chemistry is a real thing... When you play with Luka, you're going to get good looks. He draws so much attention. Shoutout to him; he played a hell of a game tonight.”
Reaves has also been vocal about Doncic's mentality, calling him a “killer” and praising his commitment to winning.
“At all costs, he wants to go out there and win. When you put a guy like that on your team... he makes the game easier for everybody else.”
While LeBron James remains the face of the franchise, Luka and Reaves have helped stabilize the Lakers during stretches when James has been sidelined. Their 20-4 record over a recent stretch has put them right back in the contender conversation, and Reaves’ growth alongside Luka has been a crucial part of that surge.
The Lakers currently sit fourth in the West with a 43-28 record, but they’re only two games behind the second seed. If they can build on the momentum Reaves and Doncic are generating, a deep playoff run is more than possible.
In a league that thrives on narratives, it’s fitting that a quiet moment on Reddit from four years ago now echoes loudly. Austin Reaves said he could help Luka Doncic—and now he’s doing exactly that.
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