Lakers’ Austin Reaves Says LeBron James Is ‘The Greatest Player Ever’

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves believes LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history. 

Reaves grew up a Kobe Bryant fan, but he’s been next to LeBron for the past few seasons on the Lakers and has witnessed greatness up close and personal. 

Austin on his relationship with LeBron:

“For him to treat me the way he treats me since day one, has been very special to me. It’s been nothing but love.” pic.twitter.com/JsRfrTUhvi

— Nicole Ganglani (@nicoleganglani) August 3, 2024

LeBron is a four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion. He has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron is the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams, the only player with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 40,000 points. 

LeBron, 39, averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers in 2023-24 in 71 games while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from 3 and 75.0% from the free-throw line. He’s the oldest player in the NBA. 

LeBron hasn’t won a championship since 2020. According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, The King “desperately wants to win at the highest of levels again.”

“As Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has always said about this partnership, James’ happiness is the key to it all,” Amick wrote. “Yet while some have surmised that James might be content coasting in these final Lakers years, enjoying all the benefits of living in Los Angeles while continuing to make his incredible mark on the league’s history books, league sources say he desperately wants to win at the highest of levels again. What’s more, James’ unprecedented play at this stage means he remains open to the prospect of playing two, or even three, more seasons before retiring.”