Mind the Game – The Austin Reaves Interview

Date: March 24, 2026
Hosts: LeBron James & Steve Nash
Guest: Austin Reaves ("AR")

Episode Overview

In this in-depth, candid conversation, LeBron James and Steve Nash break down the evolution, playmaking, and mindset of emerging NBA star Austin Reaves. Together, they explore his path from small-town roots to high-stakes NBA moments, with honest discussion about draft experiences, learning from vets, his basketball upbringing, unique skills, and the art and nuance behind his game. The episode is rich in personal stories, technical breakdowns, and genuine laughter, exemplifying Mind the Game's commitment to basketball's deepest layers.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Austin Reaves' Path to the NBA

• Draft Night Strategy & Not Getting Drafted

  • AR describes the plan to aim for the Lakers' two-way spot, prioritizing opportunity over hearing his name called on draft night.

    "It sucked to not hear my name called. But obviously, putting ourself in a good position was much more important." – Austin Reaves ([02:22])

  • Importance of analytics: His agents highlighted Lakers as a top fit due to analytics and roster situation ([03:27]).

    "They have a bunch of analytics guys grading people, grading teams... Lakers, Bucks, maybe one other team was like tier one, best possible fit." – AR ([03:27])

• Judged by Appearance, Overlooked for Draft

  • Both hosts and AR discuss how looks can lead to being overlooked:

    "You look at me now and you're still like, he can't play basketball." – AR ([00:25])
    "They look at... judge a book by its cover." – Coach/LeBron ([00:23], [21:00])

Early Development and Family Influence

• Basketball Family & Small-Town Upbringing

  • Raised in Newark, Arkansas, with two basketball-playing parents and a brother playing pro in Germany ([10:24], [15:02]).
  • Brother forced him to gym sessions, building work ethic and resilience ([13:30]-[14:54]):

    "He'd drag me out of the house. We'd go shoot for, you know, a couple hours, and then he'd just beat me really bad, one on one... He's probably the biggest basketball influence in my life." – AR ([13:30])

• Delusional Confidence and Grit

  • Reaves credits family for fostering a deep competitiveness and unusual confidence—never being allowed to win at anything at home, learning to hate losing more than loving to win ([17:54]-[19:27]):

    "I never beat my brother in anything... My parents were the same way. They didn't let me win anything... So I learned to hate losing more than I love to win." – AR ([18:20])

Early NBA Experience & Role Models

• Earning Respect and Gaining Confidence

  • LeBron and AD told him early:

    "From day one of being like, hey, you don't have to be you, like, on the court, off the court, whatever it is, just be you." – AR ([07:06])

  • Importance of veteran guidance from Rondo, Melo, Russ:

    "I leaned on Rondo a lot... I'm a question-asker. I remember I told Rondo, I was like, yo, if I ask you too many questions, you can tell me shut the hell up. He loves questions." – AR ([09:13],[09:53])

• First NBA DNP and Breaking Through

  "Opening night, we played Golden State... Literally my first ever... DNP didn't play. First time ever. And I was like, what the hell?" – AR ([26:12])

  • Got his chance next game and quickly stuck in the rotation.

Mindset and Skillset: IQ & Playmaking

• Undervalued IQ and Adaptability

  • LeBron and Nash stress the irreplaceable value of basketball IQ:

    "With my basketball mechanism and hard drive attached to is guys that know how to play the game... But also saw the knowledge of the game and the willingness to want to work." – LeBron/Coach ([28:08])

• Playmaking Roots and Versatility

  • Played point guard through high school; adapted roles through college to help teams win, learning to contribute without needing to score:

    "Never had a problem with buying into a role to help the team be successful." – AR ([30:19])

• Role of Creativity & Improvisation

  • AR on his style:

    "Nothing's predetermined. Like, nothing's predetermined... Those are the... hardest people to guard because... there's no telling what I'm doing." – AR ([35:40], [36:01])

  • Nash draws parallels to evolution of NBA offense—emphasis on creating advantage and playing off instinct ([36:06]).

The Art of the Behind-the-Back Dribble

• Signature Skill and Craft
  • Hosts praise AR’s ability to change speed/direction with behind-the-back moves (compared to Jamal Crawford, Luka, Kyrie):

    "You can use it to go, you can use it to hang, you can use it to retreat... on the move, for sure, both ways. It's fun to watch because that's tough." – Nash ([38:19])

  • AR describes working with Phil Handy on movement skills ([38:53]).

Finishing, Foul Drawing, and Contact

• Efficiency in the Paint
  • LeBron and Nash highlight AR’s high finishing rate, foul-drawing artistry ([39:29]-[44:54]):

    "For a guy that you look at, you don't think as strong and think that could create contact. You will. You realize it once he hits you with that damn shoulder and you're sliding back four feet." – LeBron/Coach ([48:05])

  • AR details how he manipulates defenders, uses timing/shoulder bumps, and crafts options out of each possession ([49:54]).

Clutch Gene and Mentality

• Loving the Moment
  • AR embraces chaos, staying calm and present:

    "Just a belief in every moment. Just, you know, being able to think positive when chaos is going on, is something that I've been really good at throughout my whole career. Even when I was younger." – AR ([50:28])

  • Iconic moment:

    "I go to the corner and I forgot who it was on their bench. Was like, you don't want it? And I was like, I'm not going to touch the ball, but if I do is going in." – AR ([53:01])

  • LeBron and Nash discuss failing in the clutch but learning to want the opportunity again ("die a thousand deaths") ([54:57]).

On-Court Clips: Play Dissections

• Football Formation & Rim Pressure ([57:31]-[59:52]):

  • AR and hosts walk through using football formations to lift defenders, creating space to attack elite rim protectors like Rudy Gobert.

• Double Drag & Behind-the-Back Reads

  • Technical breakdowns of manipulating coverage, using signature behind-the-back moves to reset and re-attack, passing with creativity, and creating rim pressure ([60:04]-[63:10]).

• Improvisation and Reading the Game

  • Emphasis on reading the defense, not pre-determining moves, and always hunting for the next advantage.

• Viral LeBron Coaching Clip

  • The hosts revisit an iconic bench interaction between AR and LeBron when a blowout is winding down, leading to a massive social media spike for AR ([65:36]-[66:39]):

    "I remember he posted that after the game, and my followers went from like 60,000... Seven million." – AR ([66:19])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "I learned to hate losing more than I love to win." – Austin Reaves ([18:20])
• "You look at me now and you're still like, he can't play basketball." – Austin Reaves ([00:25])
• "Basketball is a lot of confidence and IQ. When you know the game and you have high confidence, I feel like you can do a lot of things." – AR ([08:45])
• "I always wanted to be a point guard." – AR ([30:14])
• "Behind-the-back... I feel like I’m not going to lose the ball, especially dribbling, whatever. It might not look normal." – AR ([34:22])
• "I feel like the hardest people to guard are, like, you literally, you’re not watching scouts... There’s no telling what I’m doing." – AR ([36:01])
• "Once you start being on opposing team's depth chart of, like, scout—you got Luka, Arkansas, me—this is what we got to take away..." – LeBron/Coach ([28:17])
• "Just a belief in every moment. Just, you know, think positive when chaos is going on..." – AR ([51:09])

Key Timestamps

• Draft Night Strategy & Not Getting Drafted: [02:22]–[04:27]
• Family and Early Influences: [10:24]–[15:26]
• Delusional Confidence & Work Ethic: [17:54]–[19:27]
• NBA Breakthrough and Rookies’ Mentality: [25:34]–[28:08]
• Skills & Playmaking Philosophy: [28:08]–[32:31]
• Improvisation and Dribbling: [34:38]–[39:29]
• Finishing, Foul Drawing & Art of Contact: [39:29]–[44:54]
• Clutch Mentality & Iconic Moments: [50:01]–[55:20]
• In-Game Play Breakdowns: [57:31]–[65:12]
• LeBron Coaching Viral Moment: [65:34]–[66:39]

Memorable Segment: Clutch Mindset ([50:01]–[54:46])

• Reaves details several late-game situations and his unwavering calm, earning nods from LeBron and Nash, who both describe the bittersweet drive to embrace—and learn from—failure in big moments.
• Quote:

  "You die a thousand deaths, right? Like, you're gonna die, you're gonna miss... accept death for sure and then just go." – Host/Nash ([55:03])

Language and Tone

The episode maintains a relaxed, candid, and conversational tone—with plenty of humor, self-deprecation, and real talk about the unseen grind of NBA life. The honesty and camaraderie between LeBron, Nash, and Reaves shine through, often mixing technical basketball talk with personal stories.

Conclusion

This episode of Mind the Game stands out for its detailed exploration of Austin Reaves' journey, unfiltered discussion about obstacles faced by overlooked players, celebration of intelligence and improvisation on the court, and step-by-step breakdowns illustrating elite modern NBA offense. The blend of technical analysis and personal storytelling offers valuable lessons for basketball fans, players, and anyone curious about the mind behind the game.