In Pictures: Austin Reaves seemingly trash talks Anthony Davis in Lakers' practice with 'too small' gesture
Amid the LA Lakers' improved training camp "vibes," shooting guard Austin Reaves appeared to have fun at the expense of his superstar teammate Anthony Davis.
As LA gears up for the beginning of preseason, reports continue to emerge about the team's positive reception to first-time coach JJ Redick. On Tuesday, The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported that "the vibes around the Lakers are at an all-time high." Meanwhile, multiple players have reportedly commended Redick's coaching style.
On Thursday, LA seemingly continued that narrative on Instagram, sharing a carousel of practice photos featuring several Lakers players in good spirits. The franchise captioned the post, "Whole lotta energy in the gym."
In two photos, Reaves appears to score over Davis at the rim, celebrating with a "too small" gesture, with the two later laughing it off.
In another, Reaves and Redick can be seen smiling as they converse on the sidelines.
Redick has been vocal about his plan to make Reaves a focal point of LA's new-look offense, which will emphasize 3-pointers and paint touches.
During last week's media availability session, Redick noted that he spoke with Reaves over the offseason about how to "add" to his offensive skill set.
"We talked very early when I got the job. He spent some time with us in Vegas, and I said, 'To this point in your career, you’ve played one way, and you have a great skill set. It’s this circle. All we’re doing, we’re not taking anything out of that circle, we’re just adding to that circle,'" Redick said.
"'We’re making your bag a little bit bigger. Making you a little more hard to guard, a little more dynamic,'" he continued.
Austin Reaves served as the Lakers' fourth-leading scorer last season, providing complementary playmaking. He split his time between the starting lineup and the bench unit. However, it appears fans can expect him to potentially take another leap in a more significant offensive role in his fourth campaign.
Over 82 contests, Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.9 3s per game, shooting 48.6% and 36.7% from deep.
Austin Reaves on his improved conditioning ahead of 2024-25 NBA season
On top of receiving a larger offensive role under JJ Redick, Austin Reaves appears to have improved his conditioning over the summer.
During Monday's media day, Reaves highlighted his diligent offseason fitness regimen, which included lifting more weights.
"I feel a lot better, a lot more healthy," Reaves said. "I had opportunities to go really hard in the weight room and on the court as well. I feel like I’ve put myself in a really good position to hit the ground running.
"One of the main things was conditioning level. I’ve spent a lot of time running lines, which sucks, and nobody ever wants to really do it, but you have to do those things to put yourself in a position to play both ends of the court," he continued.
Reaves and Co. will look to take another step in the crowded Western Conference following last season's seventh-place finish (47-35).
The Lakers didn't make any major offseason additions. So, younger players like Reaves possibly breaking out will likely be crucial to their chances of improvement.
Also Read: Lakers issued a “hard no” on Austin Reaves trade proposals with HC JJ Redick planning big for $53.8 million player: Insider