While the Los Angeles Lakers are in evaluation mode after a frustrating second-round playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Austin Reaves knows what the LeBron James effect looks like on social media.
Long before the Lakers began navigating their offseason decisions, including the futures of Reaves and James, the 28-year-old recalled how his Instagram presence skyrocketed after the 4x champion posted a photo featuring him.
How a LeBron James Meme Skyrocketed Austin Reaves’ Social Media Following
In a resurfaced clip from a March episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with James and Steve Nash, Reaves detailed the “LeBron James effect” on social media stardom.
After a game against the Brooklyn Nets in January 2022, James had shared an image featuring him explaining a play design to a wide-eyed Reaves.
The impact was immediate, as Reaves’ following increased drastically.
“I remember he posted that after the game, and my followers went from like 60,000 to like 7 million,” Reaves said on the podcast.
“I’m sorry, man,” James laughed in response. “The phone died fast as hell.”
Reaves noted that he was completely unaware of the incoming traffic surge at the time.
“We were in Philly. I was out eating and I picked up my phone and I just set it back down. I was like, ‘I don’t even know what’s going on.'”
“Goddamn, my bad. That was cool, though,” James chimed in.
The 7 million figure is a heavy exaggeration, as Reaves has roughly 1.5 million Instagram followers.
Nonetheless, the hyperbole just points to the spotlight that comes with sharing a locker room with James.
James has over 150 million followers on the platform, placing him among the most influential figures in sports.
Reaves, by contrast, was an undrafted free agent before the Lakers spotlight found him.
Now, the franchise has to decide whether that development has been worth it.
Reaves completed the most productive season of his professional career. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds with an efficient 49.0% shooting before injuries derailed his (and the Lakers’) campaign.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Reaves could decline his upcoming player option to test free agency, with some teams reportedly keen to recruit him.
Meanwhile, James remains tight-lipped about his future with the team and the sport. The 41-year-old maintains that competing for championships is his sole motivation to continue playing.
These sweeping offseason decisions will ultimately determine Luka Dončić’s Lakers’ new look as they look to compete for a championship once again next season.
