{"id":796709,"date":"2026-07-27T01:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T01:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/796709\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T01:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T01:51:14","slug":"austin-reaves-chooses-between-nba-legends-for-his-all-time-starting-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/796709\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Reaves Chooses Between NBA Legends for His All-Time Starting Five"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the main goals for the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> heading into the NBA offseason was re-signing rising star Austin Reaves<\/a> to a lucrative long-term deal, securing his future with the storied franchise while playing alongside superstar Luka Doncic.<\/a><\/p>\n

Although there was a lot of speculation about Reaves\u2019 contract and the prospect of another team swooping in to give him the deal he wants, the Lakers were able to get the deal done, inking him to a four-year, $185 million contract.<\/p>\n

With Reaves\u2019 future now secure, the veteran guard is enjoying his summer while making the occasional appearance on shows like Pardon My Take.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves Reveals His All-Time Starting Five<\/p>\n

During his appearance on Pardon My Take<\/a>, Reaves revealed who he\u2019d put in his all-time starting five.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the older people, don\u2019t be mad at me because I\u2019m talking personally from what I\u2019ve seen and watched,\u201d Reaves said. \u201cSteph [Curry] at the one. I\u2019ve gotta put myself in there, I can\u2019t coach? Steph at the one, me at the two. It\u2019s so much easier if I didn\u2019t have to put myself in there because I would put Kobe [Bryant] at the two. We\u2019re gonna go Kobe at the three, Bron at the four and Shaq at the five.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a big Kobe Bryant<\/a> fan, it comes as no surprise that the Lakers legend would make the cut. Not putting Michael Jordan<\/a> in there is a choice, but he did add himself instead.<\/p>\n

Reaves adding LeBron James<\/a> into the mix is also not surprising, as he thinks highly of his former teammate.<\/p>\n

One noticeable omission is Luka Doncic<\/a>, but putting Stephen Curry at point guard makes sense, even though many current and former players put Magic Johnson<\/a> there, considering most view the five-time champion as the best point guard of all time.<\/p>\n

Curry, however, changed the game as arguably the best shooter in NBA history and is a surefire Hall of Famer when he decides to call it a career. Reaves has gone head-to-head with the Golden State Warriors legend many times, so he\u2019s seen what he can do up close and personal.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s perhaps the most dominant force in league history, Shaquille O\u2019Neal. The Lakers legend was virtually unstoppable in his prime, with a mix of speed, size, strength and touch that we\u2019ve never seen before and might never see again.<\/p>\n

Some choose to go with fellow Lakers legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a> or Wilt Chamberlain, who aren\u2019t bad picks either. Others go with Boston Celtics icon Bill Russell or Hakeem Olajuwon.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neal is the right choice in my opinion, even though you can\u2019t go wrong with Abdul-Jabbar either.<\/p>\n

A solid list from Reaves, as he heads into the prime of his career while trying to etch his name in Lakers history by trying to add another championship banner in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena while playing alongside Doncic for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

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