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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Eva Geitheim

Austin Reaves Reveals Sweet Reason LeBron James Was Tough on Him Early in Career

Austin Reaves LeBron James Bron Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward LeBron James. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Before Austin Reaves emerged as a core player on the Los Angeles Lakers, he was an undrafted free from rural Arkansas. He was overlooked in the draft by scouts who thought he wasn't athletic or big enough, but the Lakers saw potential and signed him after he declined being selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2021 draft.

One Laker in particular saw this potential—LeBron James.

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