The 2025-26 season ended in heartbreak for the Los Angeles Lakers. After finishing the regular season with a 53-29 record, the Purple and Gold managed to take down the Houston Rockets in six games during the first round.
However, those hopes were crushed in the second round when the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the series and eliminated the Lakers in just four games.
Since that exit, things around the Lakers had been relatively quiet. But now, a new moment involving Austin Reaves and LeBron James has suddenly grabbed the NBA world’s attention.
Recent Interaction Between a Reporter and Austin Reaves Has Gone Viral
Recently, a TMZ Sports reporter spotted Reaves while he was walking through the airport and quickly approached him for a brief interaction. The reporter praised Reaves and told him he was a great player.
Reaves responded politely by saying thank you. However, the conversation quickly shifted toward James and his future with the Lakers.
Austin Reaves says he wants to run it back with LeBron and the Lakers next season, per TMZ. pic.twitter.com/1bFG3YCm1N
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 23, 2026
The reporter repeatedly asked whether Reaves wanted the King to be back with the team next season. While Reaves never gave an overly dramatic response, he indirectly made it clear that he absolutely wanted LBJ to remain in Los Angeles.
But what truly caught the NBA world’s attention was not Reaves’ answer, but it was the reporter’s persistence.
The NBA World Was Not Happy With How the TMZ Reporter Acted
When the reporter first approached, Reaves was actually quite warm. He acknowledged the compliment the reporter paid him and even threw out a fist bump.
But as the reporter kept cycling through the same type of questions without letting up, Reaves visibly began to disengage. The NBA world noticed that immediately.
“Bro just sayin’ anything to get away from him,” wrote one influencer, whereas another one said, “Bro can these people leave AR alone?? Just say ‘I’m a big fan, bro enjoy your summer.'”
Bro just sayin anything to get away from him 😭 https://t.co/NvWWOFC5Bl
— 🔥 (@hoodijon) May 23, 2026
Usually, when someone is no longer interested in a conversation, they either nod briefly or give very short answers.
Reaves appeared to do exactly that. Still, the reporter kept asking him the same questions. The NBA world was stunned at how the situation kept going despite the clear social cues.
“These dudes never feel any shame continuing to try to talk to someone as they give you 1 word answers and try to walk away from you?” wrote the admin of the Lakers fanpage LakersSpin.
These dudes never feel any shame continuing to try to talk to someone as they give you 1 word answers and try to walk away from you? https://t.co/F80MjX3r9j
— LakersSpin (@LakersSpin) May 23, 2026
While most people focused on criticizing the reporter, one user shifted attention back to basketball. The user suggested that Reaves might actually fit better alongside Luka Dončić rather than constantly being tied to James discussions.
“Leave Bron out of it bro… U and Luka got it,” wrote the user.
Leave Bron out of it bro
U and Luka got it https://t.co/2Di8Eifbnf— AR Shuttleworth Finn⁶🦦👌🏽 (@finn_trae) May 23, 2026
In the end, we can say that what looked like a simple airport interview turned into one of the NBA’s latest viral moments.
