Austin Reaves gives LeBron credit for development; says LeBron was very tough on him.
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 2:16 am
I wanted to post this because I always see people questioning LeBron's leadership. People make claims that he's never helped players develop around him. This article here is proof that LeBron has been an effective leader with Reaves. Austin gives him credit for being tough on him and helping him develop.
Now, I don't think teammates should got much credit for a player developing. Most of that credit should go to the player themselves for putting the work in to become great. But very marginal credit can be warranted.
Hopefully this doesn't get locked. I think it's a good article showing that LeBron has been a good teammate and leader.
https://nbaanalysis.net/austin-reaves-almost-confronted-lebron-james-over-harsh-treatment-on-the-lakers-he-needs-to/
In an interview with Taylor Geas of NBA.com, Austin Reaves spoke about his early days with the Lakers. He noted that initially, LeBron James was very tough on him, constantly berating him for his mistakes.
"“I’ll give Bron credit. Ever since day one, I remember my rookie year, he was on my a– for a two-week stretch, and I was getting frustrated. I would mess up in games, and he would critique me a lot.”
“I got real frustrated because I felt like he just kept coming after me. Kept coming after me. But not in a bad way—he just wanted me to be better.”
“I went to Phil Handy, and I was like, ‘He needs to give me a break, I’m still learning.’ And he was like, ‘The only reason he’s on you like that is because he believes in you.'”"
As part of the same interview, LeBron James addressed his initial treatment of Austin Reaves. He gave Reaves credit for helping improve his own game and admitted that he saw the greatness in Reaves from day one.
“From day one, he’s been one of the biggest reasons that I’ve continued to grow. Because I knew. I saw it. I saw it from the beginning. I knew he could play.”
Reaves and James have played together on the Lakers for four seasons now. And they have formed an amazing partnership together.
Now, I don't think teammates should got much credit for a player developing. Most of that credit should go to the player themselves for putting the work in to become great. But very marginal credit can be warranted.
Hopefully this doesn't get locked. I think it's a good article showing that LeBron has been a good teammate and leader.
https://nbaanalysis.net/austin-reaves-almost-confronted-lebron-james-over-harsh-treatment-on-the-lakers-he-needs-to/
In an interview with Taylor Geas of NBA.com, Austin Reaves spoke about his early days with the Lakers. He noted that initially, LeBron James was very tough on him, constantly berating him for his mistakes.
"“I’ll give Bron credit. Ever since day one, I remember my rookie year, he was on my a– for a two-week stretch, and I was getting frustrated. I would mess up in games, and he would critique me a lot.”
“I got real frustrated because I felt like he just kept coming after me. Kept coming after me. But not in a bad way—he just wanted me to be better.”
“I went to Phil Handy, and I was like, ‘He needs to give me a break, I’m still learning.’ And he was like, ‘The only reason he’s on you like that is because he believes in you.'”"
As part of the same interview, LeBron James addressed his initial treatment of Austin Reaves. He gave Reaves credit for helping improve his own game and admitted that he saw the greatness in Reaves from day one.
“From day one, he’s been one of the biggest reasons that I’ve continued to grow. Because I knew. I saw it. I saw it from the beginning. I knew he could play.”
Reaves and James have played together on the Lakers for four seasons now. And they have formed an amazing partnership together.