Austin Reaves Names Best Player At Lakers, Not LeBron JamesAustin Reaves (Image Credit: YouTube/Lakers Nation)
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to reclaim their lost glory, and thankfully, they look set. With the proceedings just starting this season, the Lakers have already made a strong statement. Facing off against the daunting Phoenix Suns, the Lakers triumphed with an impressive scoreline. And as sweet as the 123-116 victory tasted, the Lakers have more to cherish than what meets the normal eye.

At a glance, LeBron James would stand out as the best possible bet for the Lakers this season. However, enjoying a 2-0 start for the first time since 2010-11, there are other budding stars in the Lakers’ locker room. Interacting with the media in a video uploaded on YouTube by Lakers Nation, Austin Reaves doubled down on their last game. While his 26 points proved to be a deciding factor, Reaves was mesmerized by one particular athlete. He thought this athlete was the best bet for the Los Angeles Lakers. And surprisingly, it was not LeBron James!

When asked about the heroics of Anthony Davis, Reaves looked mightily impressed. He immediately heaped praises on the athlete and said (1:22 to 1:45), “He’s been doing this. It’s not abnormal for him to do what he’s doing. I feel like he’s the best player on our team. And he’s such a high-level talent that I expect him to go out every single night and be dominant.”


(1:22 to 1:45)

Well, this was a huge compliment for the emerging star. After all, being tagged as the ‘best’ in a lot of places where LeBron James is present certainly means a lot. And the praises are not vague. Right from the start of the season, Anthony Davis has been dictating terms.

Lakers Star Anthony Davis Gains Significant Momentum

Anthony Davis made his mark in the season opener for the Lakers. While it was an emotional night for LeBron James playing with his son, Bronny, Davis was the star of the show. Dropping 36 points and 16 rebounds, Davis led the Lakers to secure a tight victory on their opening night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But that was not the only time Davis sparkled.


Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on October 10, 2024Anthony Davis (Image Credit: Getty Images)
In their next game against the Suns, James got into his mojo, dropping 21 points. However, trailing for a significant time, the match was turned on its head when Davis came in with 35 points to help the Lakers overcome a 22-point deficit. Such a dominant performance from Davis is surely an exciting prospect for the Lakers. It will now be interesting to see how well he can keep up and carry on with the dominance in days to come.