Luka Doncic & Austin Reaves Element Bond Driving Lakers’ Rise

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The transformation of the Los Angeles Lakers this season has been powered largely by the fast connection between Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a pairing that has flourished each on the court docket and away from it.

Regardless of issues that two ball-dominant guards may battle to coexist, Doncic and Reaves have as an alternative emerged as one of many league’s most efficient backcourts, every enjoying at an All-Star degree. Reaves not too long ago opened up about how shortly the connection shaped, talking with Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“I noticed that we had — I don’t love saying this — many similarities in how we wish to compete in all various things,” Reaves stated. “Not simply basketball. No matter. Playing cards, bowling, darts … which he hasn’t crushed me at both.”

That competitiveness, Reaves believes, has translated straight into their on-court chemistry.

“We act like we’re most likely 10-year outdated greatest pals,” Reaves stated. “You could have a deeper look after each other than simply basketball. After which that bleeds into basketball, since you don’t need to let that particular person down. … You don’t need to not give it your all.”

From Doncic’s perspective, the partnership has felt seamless from the beginning.

“We sort of perceive one another — what the opposite goes to do,” Doncic stated. “So I’d say it’s a bit bit pure.”

The dynamic hasn’t gone unnoticed by head coach JJ Redick, who highlighted their shared edge and trash-talking tendencies.

“I believe it’s in a extremely wholesome place,” Redick stated. “I believe what they realized early within the preseason, I don’t know if it was the primary street journey or the second that we went on, however they each realized that they each get pleasure from speaking trash lots. And their personalities in that regard are very related to allow them to type of create a bit little bit of chemistry with one another simply by being their pure selves.”