Austin Reaves embraces new role as leader in LA

As early as the middle of last season, Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić were already having conversations about their future. Reaves was set to hit free agency in June, but the two discussed what a continued partnership in the purple and gold would look like. Once the offseason came around, those talks evolved into what they each needed to do to put the Los Angeles Lakers in a position to succeed.

"Very bland, to be honest," Reaves told reporters at the Lakers' media day on Monday, Sept. 28. "But at the end of the day, we care about winning, and that's all that matters."