Austin Reeves and LeBron James played together for five seasons on the Los Angeles Lakers, forming a close bond. James noticed Reeves’ talent early on and took him under his wing.
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So James’ departure from the Lakers hit Reeves hard. He sent James a candid message last week after learning the four-time NBA champion was leaving.
“I texted him and told him I had a great day on the golf course until he ruined it,” Reeves told the California Post on Wednesday.
Following the Lakers’ second-round playoff exit to the Oklahoma City Thunder in May, Reeves reflected on his relationship with James and how they were able to build a friendship off the court.
“He taught me a lot. I owe a lot of my career to him. Like I said, he gave me confidence every single day,” he said.
Reeves, an avid golfer, added that they have been playing on the course since James started playing golf last year. In a farewell message to James last week, Reeves wrote: “Thank you for everything. See you on the golf course soon, brother.”
They had a viral moment together in Reeves’ first season. While James was giving instructions to Reeves during a game in January 2022, the guard showed a surprised expression that quickly became a meme. They reflected on this during an episode of the Mind the Game podcast in March.
James has not yet announced his next destination. But Reeves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million deal with the Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania last month. Reeves will simply have to play without a former teammate who recently ruined his day.