Lakers' Austin Reaves connects with LeBron James for two insane alley-oop slams

The young guard and the veteran superstar teamed up for a pair of highlight-reel plays against the Wizards.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:54am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in neon colors capturing the explosive energy and movement of LeBron James soaring for an alley-oop dunk, his form and jersey dissolving into vibrant brushstrokes.The dynamic duo of LeBron James and Austin Reaves ignite the crowd with a pair of electrifying alley-oop dunks, showcasing their growing on-court chemistry.Los Angeles Today

In a matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards, Lakers guard Austin Reaves found forward LeBron James for two spectacular alley-oop dunks in the first quarter. The plays showcased the strong connection between the young Reaves and the veteran James, who have been playing well together in recent weeks.

Why it matters

The Lakers have been struggling this season, but the chemistry between Reaves and James provides a bright spot and a glimpse of the team's potential when the two players are in sync. These types of highlight-reel plays can energize the team and the fanbase as the Lakers push for a playoff spot.

The details

On two separate fast breaks in the first quarter, Reaves found James for alley-oop dunks. On the first play, Reaves recovered the ball after almost losing it and then delivered a perfect pass to James, who slammed it home. A few minutes later, Reaves threw a lob from the baseline that James caught and finished with authority.

  • The plays occurred in the early minutes of the first quarter of the Lakers-Wizards game on March 31, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A 4-time NBA champion and 4-time NBA MVP, James is a veteran superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Austin Reaves

A young guard in his third season with the Lakers, Reaves has developed strong chemistry with LeBron James and is emerging as a key contributor for the team.

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What they’re saying

“The pair of alley-oop dunks was another proof of the strong connection between James and Reaves, who have been playing beautiful music, along with Luka Doncic, over the past few weeks.”

— Paolo Mariano, Author

What’s next

The Lakers and Wizards will continue their game, with the Lakers looking to build on the momentum from the Reaves-James alley-oop plays.

The takeaway

The highlight-reel plays between Reaves and James showcase the Lakers' potential when their young talent and veteran superstar are in sync, providing a glimmer of hope for the team's playoff aspirations this season.