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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Earlier this week, the news became official that LeBron James is departing the Los Angeles Lakers after playing eight years for the franchise, which included winning an NBA championship, his fourth in 2020.
The announcement of James's exit arrived soon after the big news that his teammate, starting guard Austin Reaves, had signed a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to remain part of the team.
That signaled the Lakers' interest in continuing to focus on their future roster, which also features their clear franchise superstar of the future, Luka Doncic, whom they traded for in 2024.
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LeBron's leaving hasn't created any hard feelings as it seems mostly amicable, and his former teammates are showing their love, appreciation, and support for his friendship and mentorship after bonding with him. Reaves did so, taking to his Instagram Story to show some love.
"Thank you for everything see you on the golf course soon brother !" Reaves wrote in a message on his Instagram Story, which ESPN also shared on Wednesday.
More news: Magic Johnson Sends Message to LeBron James After Lakers Exit
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This past postseason featured a Lakers team missing Doncic while recovering from an injury suffered late in the season. Reaves was also sidelined for part of the playoffs, but returned to help take some of the pressure off King James, who had been mostly carrying the team.
They advanced past the Houston Rockets, who were missing Kevin Durant for multiple games in the first round. Still, the Lakers needed more than just James and Reaves as their top stars when facing the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept them 4-0 in the second round.
With the Lakers entering a new phase without LeBron James, there's a big potential for Reaves to emerge as an NBA All-Star. He seemed to be headed in that direction in recent seasons, but now could really have vastly improved stats and contributions to the team's success.
This past season, Reaves was the team's second-leading scorer behind Doncic, averaging 23.3 points per game, along with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and a 49% field-goal percentage.
He had several huge performances to lead the Lakers, including a near triple-double of 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, in an October win against the Kings without James or Doncic in the lineup.
And with his message to James, it's clear Reaves also loves golf. King James has mentioned it while chatting about Reaves and golf. That includes strong remarks he made to praise his teammate on the "Mind the Game" podcast.
"The guy, he plays golf, and he plays basketball. That's him. He has time, and he puts the work in, and then he goes on a golf course and clears his mind, and then he plays basketball, and he clears his mind. And I think, you know, the guy is just, he's a great dude, man. I'm so happy for all his success in his career," James said.
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