Austin Reaves reveals awkward start to friendship with Luka Doncic

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic detailed the awkward early stages of their friendship following Doncic's trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. In an interview with the California Post's Melissa Rohlin, Reaves admitted that they initially walked past each other in the locker room without speaking. Doncic explained that adjusting to unfamiliar teammates is difficult for him, but their bond grew over shared interests and humor by training camp.

Their connection has since expanded significantly off the court, with Reaves calling Doncic one of his closest friends after signing a new Lakers deal in July. The relationship extended into the offseason, which included an organized team trip to Slovenia featuring golf, rowing, and basketball workouts alongside teammates like Kevon Looney.