Reaves jokes LeBron 'ruined' his golf day after Lakers exit
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- Austin Reaves told the California Post he texted LeBron James saying 'I was having a great day on the golf course until he ruined it' upon learning James was leaving the Lakers, and wrote a farewell message: 'Thank you for everything. See you on the golf course soon brother.'
- LeBron James and Reaves played together for five seasons in Los Angeles, during which James identified Reaves' talent early and 'took him under his wing,' per the source.
- Reaves credited James for shaping his career, saying 'He's taught me a lot. I owe him a lot from my career… he's given me confidence every single day.'
- James picked up golf last year and has since hit the course with Reaves, an avid golfer — a detail that frames their bond as extending well beyond the hardwood.
- Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million deal to stay with the Lakers, per ESPN's Shams Charania, meaning he will continue in Los Angeles without his former mentor.
- Reaves and James had a viral moment in January 2022 when James gave Reaves in-game instructions and Reaves' surprised expression became a meme, which the two later reflected on during a March episode of James' 'Mind the Game' podcast.
Why it matters: Reaves is locking in a $185 million, four-year Lakers extension while James' next destination remains unannounced, meaning the player who mentored Reaves from an undrafted guard into a max-contract star will now be playing elsewhere — a transition that reshapes both the Lakers' hierarchy and James' farewell tour narrative.
