The Los Angeles Lakers have officially moved into the new era, built around superstar Luka Doncic and his running mate, Austin Reaves. The two quickly formed a bond after Doncic’s blockbuster deal to L.A. back in 2025, and their friendship and on-court chemistry was the core of a team that finished with 53 wins last season.
Doncic is one of the best players in the sport, and Reaves figures to be a great long-term sidekick. Reaves recently told a funny story that encapsulates both his relationship with Doncic and the Lakers superstar’s ability on the court.
“He does have a bowling alley in his basement and I think it was New Year’s Eve,” Reaves said on Pardon My Take. “I went and ate with my people and then going home, he called me and he had some friends over for New Year’s or whatever. I went over there and I think we ended up bowling until like 5:30 in the morning. He can’t beat me. I tell him that too, I’m like you can’t even beat me in your own house, that’s pretty sad. We play a lot of games. Ping Pong, I don’t think he’s beaten me in Ping Pong. We briefly played darts but I won that. We played shuffleboard, I beat him in that. I mean, the one thing he can probably beat me at is what I probably need to care about more is basketball. He’s a pretty good player.”
Reaves going to Doncic’s house late on New Year’s Eve and spending the entirety of the night beating him at his home bowling alley is certainly a funny image. Reaves and Doncic are known for poking fun at one another in various ways, and this story is perfectly in line with what their friendship has been publicly.
Their friendship is only likely to grow as they take over as the official one-two punch of the Lakers, and we are sure to get more stories like this with the two under contract together for at least the next two years.
Austin Reaves reveals JJ Redick’s unusual fear
Reaves also poked some fun at his head coach, JJ Redick, in his Pardon My Take interview. He spoke about the best way to get in Redick’s head while playing golf with him.
“There’s a better way to get in his head on the golf course if you ever get out there with him. He’s terrified of his shadow. So if he has a shadow that’s like, if the sun is back here and he’s aiming this way and the shadow is over the ball or right behind him just mention it and his brain will start spinning.”
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
