Lakers' Reaves Recalls Instant Chemistry with LeBron

Undrafted player shares the moment he clicked with NBA superstar on the court

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Lakers star Austin Reaves opened up about the exact moment he felt his on-court chemistry with teammate LeBron James instantly click. Reaves, an undrafted player who has emerged as a key part of the Lakers' rotation, said there was one particular play where he drove past Rajon Rondo and threw a no-look pass to LeBron for a dunk that "lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders" and allowed him to just play basketball.

Why it matters

Playing alongside a generational talent like LeBron James can be a make-or-break experience for many NBA players. Reaves' ability to quickly establish chemistry with the future Hall of Famer has been crucial to his development and the Lakers' success this season.

The details

In an interview with SLAM Magazine, Reaves recalled the specific moment when he knew his partnership with LeBron was going to work. "There was one play in particular, I drove down past Rondo, then threw a no-look pass to LeBron, and he dunked it. After that, it lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders & it was time to play basketball," Reaves said.

  • Reaves made the comments in a recent interview with SLAM Magazine.

The players

Austin Reaves

A Lakers player who went undrafted but has emerged as a key part of the team's rotation playing alongside LeBron James.

LeBron James

A 23-year NBA veteran and future Hall of Famer who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rajon Rondo

A veteran NBA player who has also played with LeBron James on the Lakers.

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What they’re saying

“There was one play in particular, I drove down past Rondo, then threw a no-look pass to LeBron, and he dunked it. After that, it lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders & it was time to play basketball.”

— Austin Reaves, Lakers Player (SLAM)

What’s next

Reaves and the Lakers will look to continue building their chemistry as they push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Reaves' ability to quickly establish on-court chemistry with a superstar like LeBron James is a testament to his skills and work ethic. This connection has been crucial to Reaves' development and the Lakers' success this season, showing that undrafted players can thrive when given the opportunity to play alongside elite talent.