After the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, LeBron James and Austin Reaves had a heartfelt moment, as both superstars face uncertain free-agent futures.
On Monday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 at Crypto.com Arena, closing out the second-round series in four games. In the quiet locker room afterward, a story emerged that had nothing to do with tactics—it was about two teammates and the potential impact they could have on each other’s futures.
In the final seconds, Austin Reaves had the ball with a chance to tie the game, but his shot rimmed out. The season was over.
Before Reaves could react, LeBron James was right there. “Good shot! Keep your head up!” Reaves recalled James telling him. “He means so much to my career,” Reaves added, his voice heavy with the realization that the time he has left playing alongside the greatest of all time may be running short.
That moment perfectly captured the bond between the two players this season. LeBron, 41, is playing his 23rd NBA season, setting a record for most seasons played. He finished Game 4 with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists, and afterward admitted he was uncertain about his future. Reaves scored 27 points in the loss but couldn’t lead the Lakers past the Thunder, who entered the postseason with an 8-0 record.
When asked about their time together, both players were effusive in their praise. “Seeing AR’s growth over these five years has been amazing,” James said of the 27-year-old guard. Reaves, for his part, didn’t hold back when describing what it meant to play alongside “The King.” “It’s been fun,” he said simply. “I hope we can keep doing this.”
But that hope comes with huge uncertainty. Reaves is expected to decline his $14.8 million player option this summer to test free agency, with teams like the Utah Jazz reportedly offering a starting-level max contract. LeBron’s future remains up in the air—he told reporters he needs to “talk it over with his family” before making any decision.
For a team built around Luka Dončić’s future, whether LeBron and Reaves return could determine if next season is a genuine championship run or a step backward.
