Austin Reaves has a suggestion for getting the most out of Luka Doncic: Give the Lakers star someone to argue with.An opposing player will do. So might a coach or a fan sitting close enough to be heard. Reaves has seen how Doncic responds when someone challenges him, and he offered a memorable explanation in Chris Mannix’s new Sports Illustrated profile.
“I’ve thought about paying people in the stands to just talk crazy to him,” Reaves told Mannix, “because he goes to that different level.”
The remark was a playful endorsement of Doncic’s competitive streak, rather than an announcement of any actual arrangement. It also revealed something about the relationship between two players central to Los Angeles’ hopes: Reaves understands the teammate behind the spectacular scoring performances.
Reaves has learned what fuels Doncic
That familiarity took time to develop.
Reaves told Sports Illustrated that Doncic initially kept to himself after arriving from Dallas in the February 2025 trade. Rather than push for an immediate friendship, Reaves let their connection develop naturally.
Now, their time together extends beyond basketball. Mannix reported that Reaves visits the bowling alley at Doncic’s Manhattan Beach home, and the two have bonded over golf. Their friendship gives Reaves a close view of the contrast between Doncic’s quieter personality away from basketball and his confrontational approach during games. For Reaves, a little outside provocation can bring out the version of Doncic opponents least want to face.
There is a balance to maintain, however. The feature also detailed Doncic’s struggles with technical fouls and JJ Redick’s efforts to help him keep his competitive intensity from becoming counterproductive.
The Lakers want that edge to produce baskets and wins.
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Doncic’s Slovenia trip showed another side of his leadership
Doncic’s offseason offered a different example of how he can influence the team.
According to Mannix, he hosted Lakers teammates in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for a four-day minicamp in August, covering the costs of a trip that combined pickup basketball with dinners, golf and sightseeing. For a roster with 10 new players following LeBron James’ departure, the gathering gave teammates a chance to build connections before the season. Players thanked Doncic with handwritten notes afterward.
That is the broader challenge facing the Lakers star: helping a reshaped team come together while continuing to deliver on the court.
Reaves’ joke captures one part of that equation. The Slovenian gathering captures another. Doncic can feed off a challenge from the stands, but the relationships he builds within his own locker room could matter just as much.
