Now everyone is coming for LeBron’s golf swing. He’s a late bloomer in the NBA’s favorite sidequest, sure. Yet the Charles Barkley comparisons are close to driving him away from what could be his retirement pastime. Someone LeBron James could’ve taken a few golf lessons from was Austin Reaves. He has a mean swing! But even he’s turned on his vet. For whom? Bronny, of course.
Amid the Lakers’ media frenzy and training camp chaos, Austin Reaves finally ended the speculation about his near future by signing an extension. Everyone obviously wanted to know about the $53.8 million deal with an option for the last year. But once that was out of the way, they had to ask if Reaves caught up with James on the greens yet.
He played golf with ‘a’ James. Bronny specifically. who fortunately doesn’t have the bad swing gene. Even the Lakers flexed his talent on a Mic’d Up YouTube video this month. We can see why AR picked him to play golf with instead of his dad, as he told the reporters so.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I played with Bronny probably a week ago now, we was on 18.” We didn’t see any social media Easter Eggs of Bronny and AR hanging out at the course together but if Reaves says so, we believe him. That warranted some flexing to their other teammate. “I sent Bron a picture of me and Bronny out there and I was like I got all of my money on Bronny. He told me I was insane obviously but, yeah, he’s got a good swing.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
They had to ask what Reaves thought of Bronny’s dad’s swing. Reaves didn’t hold back. “It’s a work in progress.” At least he didn’t compare him to Chuck like Steph Curry did.
However, Reaves revealed there has been some new development in LeBron James’ golf adventures. “He told me he got his first birdy the other day and he said he was very, very excited.” If King James‘ pure excitement at discovering a new sport at 40 doesn’t bring a tear to your eye…
He’s definitely a work in progress. Possibly why Austin’s not going to join him on the course anytime soon.
Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports
Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports
Austin Reaves is sticking around for more golf with the James family
For most of the offseason, the Austin Reaves dilemma was haunting the Lakers. Analysts and former NBA legends were divided – some wanting the team to trade him for a player better suited to Luka Doncic, others wanting him to stay.
Reaves was emotional about the extension which he wanted. His contract’s a little low than what most predicted, but he said, “It’s a business at the end of the day. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be in LA. I want to be in LA for my whole career and hopefully we can make that happen.”
Now that he’s sticking around, he can play golf with Bronny and/or both could fix LeBron’s iambic swing. James knows his limits too. Because he told the media he would not play for money against Reaves in golf. Reporters asked Reaves what he thought about James claiming, “I’m going to get out there with him…But as far as betting, I’m not going to do that.” AR replied, “That’s bad advice. He’s got enough money to help me with my rent.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Reaves now has almost $14 million a year to take care of his rent. He can up the stakes at least against Bronny. He’ll spare LeBron his dignity for now.